Summary — HB 503: "Don't Tread on Me Act" (Individual Freedoms Act)
Status / Procedural history
- Bill: HB 503, “Don't Tread on Me: An Individual Freedoms Act.”
- Introduced: November 12, 2024. Lead sponsor: Rep. Reives (among other co-sponsors in the House).
- Current status (per provided materials): Passed first reading and referred to committee(s) for further consideration. Effective date: when the act becomes law.
Purpose / intent
- To create an express “Individual Freedom Bill of Rights” in state statute that limits state and local governmental authority over certain private matters (medical, religious, political, educational, and personal data), and to require that any infringement of those rights meet strict scrutiny — i.e., be justified by a compelling State interest and narrowly tailored means.
Key provisions (major substantive elements)
- Creates a new Article in Chapter 99D establishing fundamental individual rights (codified as G.S. 99D-10). Rights and prohibitions include:
- Prohibits warrantless surveillance, tracking, or data collection by any State agency or political subdivision.
- Prohibits requiring disclosure of private medical decisions, religious beliefs, or political affiliations as a condition to obtain government benefits, employment, or services; and prohibits making determinations based on such disclosed information.
- Prohibits unlawful disclosure, “weaponizing,” or tracking of personal health information by State agencies.
- Prohibits denial or restriction of reproductive health care, contraception, or medical treatment based on ideology rather than medical science.
- Protects parental authority: government may not override parental decisions without due process in cases that do not involve abuse, neglect, or harm.
- Education requirements: mandates fact‑based instruction, historical accuracy, and bars compelling students or employees to affirm/promote a particular political ideology.
- Prohibits denial of employment, housing, or public services based on private political beliefs, medical history, or lawful personal conduct; bars quotas or ideological discrimination in employment/housing.
- Standard of review: any governmental action that infringes these rights must satisfy a compelling State interest and be narrowly tailored.
Who would be affected
- State executive agencies, local governments and political subdivisions, public schools and institutions (K–12), public employers, licensing and benefits programs, and any government-funded or government-administered services that collect data, set conditions for services, or regulate education/health policies.
- Indirect effects on health-care providers, school districts, employers, housing providers, and third parties interacting with government programs where disclosures or data-sharing are currently required.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Operational: State and local agencies may need to revise data-collection, surveillance, public‑health monitoring, school curriculum policies, student‑privacy and reporting procedures, and benefit‑eligibility rules to avoid conflicts with the statute.
- Legal: The bill elevates protections to a strict‑scrutiny standard, which could increase litigation challenging existing statutes, rules, or practices (e.g., public‑health surveillance, mandated reporting, school policies).
- Public health and safety tradeoffs: prohibitions on data collection and tracking could constrain public‑health surveillance and emergency response unless the government can demonstrate a compelling interest and narrow tailoring.
- Education and employment: may limit certain training, curriculum content, or employment policies judged by courts to “compel” ideological affirmation.
Plain‑language takeaway
HB 503 would add a statutory “Individual Freedom Bill of Rights” limiting how state and local governments may collect information, regulate medical care, shape education, and make eligibility or employment decisions. Government action that conflicts with these protections would be subject to a high legal standard (compelling interest / narrowly tailored), likely prompting policy changes and legal challenges if enacted.
