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Bill Summary · SB 784

Summary of bill: SB 784 (Session 2025, North Carolina)

Title

Ensure Same-Sex Domestic Violence Protection Order.

Primary purpose

To ensure that domestic violence protective orders (DVPOs) are available to individuals in same-sex relationships, aligning protections with existing DVPO provisions for other relationship types.

Key provisions

  1. Clarification of who may seek a DVPO (G.S. 50B-1(b))

    • The bill rewrites the categories defining “personal relationship” for purposes of DVPOs.
    • It preserves existing categories (spouses, related persons, persons sharing a child, household members, etc.) but adds language to ensure same-sex couples are included within the protections.
    • The reform addresses the limitation that, previously, certain definitions may have implicitly barred same-sex couples from qualifying for DVPO relief.
    • The updated text maintains several existing subsections:
      • Opposite-sex spouses
      • Opposite-sex dating relationships
      • Parents/children or other acting in loco parentis
      • Grandparents and grandchildren
      • Current or former household members
      • Persons of opposite sex who live together or have lived together
    • The core change is to ensure that same-sex couples can obtain protection under DVPO provisions when the relationship matches the listed criteria.

  2. Public awareness and prevention campaign (SECTION 2)

    • The State appropriates $500,000 in nonrecurring General Fund resources for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
    • Purpose: to establish a public awareness and prevention campaign regarding domestic violence within same-sex relationships.
    • The funds are allocated to the Administrative Office of the Courts.

  3. Effective date (SECTION 3)

    • The act becomes law upon enactment.
    • It applies to DVPOs issued on or after the effective date.

Who is affected

  • Individuals in same-sex intimate or household relationships who may seek domestic violence protective orders.
  • Nonprofit, advocacy, and court systems involved in DVPO processes (courts, clerks, advocates) due to the expanded recognition of same-sex relationships.
  • General public through the targeted prevention campaign funded by the bill.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Filing status: The bill was filed in April 2026 and has advanced to committee review (Rules and Operations of the Senate).
  • First reading has occurred; subsequent steps would typically include committee consideration, potential amendments, and floor votes.
  • If passed, the act would take effect upon becoming law and would apply to DVPOs issued on or after that date.

Notes

  • The bill complements existing DVPO frameworks by explicitly ensuring coverage for same-sex couples within the statutory definitions of “personal relationship.”
  • The inclusion is designed to promote equal access to protective orders and bolster safety for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing domestic violence.
  • The funding for a public awareness campaign signals an emphasis on education and outreach to affected communities.

If you’d like, I can compare SB 784 to current NC DVPO provisions or provide a side-by-side explanation of how the language readjusts eligibility criteria.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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