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HB 924

Highways, Roads and Bridges - As introduced, requires the department of transportation to study the development of a new bridge crossing the Mississippi River and connecting to Arkansas. - Amends TCA Title 54.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe Towns

HB 924 lets NC's Board for General Contractors refer criminal violations to law enforcement or a DA and share investigative records to aid prosecutions, effective Oct 1, 2025.

Def. to Summer Study in Transportation Subcommittee
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Bill Summary · HB 924

HB 924 — Board for General Contractors / Criminal Referrals (North Carolina)

Purpose and intent

To authorize the State Licensing Board for General Contractors (the Board) to refer suspected violations of Chapter 87 (general contractor licensing law) that are subject to criminal penalties to law enforcement or a district attorney for investigation and possible prosecution, and to permit the Board to share investigative records and otherwise assist criminal investigations/prosecutions.

Key provisions

  • New statutory section (to be codified as G.S. 87-13.2) authorizes the Board to:
    • Refer matters to the appropriate law‑enforcement agency or District Attorney whenever the Board has “reasonable grounds to believe” a violation carrying criminal penalties has occurred.
    • Disclose Board investigative records to law‑enforcement agencies or prosecutors notwithstanding any confidentiality provisions the Board otherwise maintains.
    • Assist criminal prosecutions, including sharing information and (where authorized by statute) using Board funds to support such prosecutions.
    • Clarify that nothing in the section limits the State’s authority to prosecute crimes under other statutes.
  • The Board is given explicit rulemaking authority to implement the section.
  • Effective date: October 1, 2025. The statute would apply to violations committed on or after that date.

Who or what would be affected

  • State Licensing Board for General Contractors: gains explicit authority to refer cases and share investigative materials; may adopt implementing rules.
  • Licensed general contractors and businesses subject to Chapter 87: increased likelihood that suspected criminal conduct uncovered in Board investigations can be referred for and pursued as criminal matters.
  • Law enforcement and district attorneys: will receive referrals and may obtain Board records to support criminal investigations/prosecutions.
  • Consumers and the public: may see greater criminal enforcement of contractor fraud, unlicensed contracting, theft/embezzlement, and other criminally‑sanctioned violations under Chapter 87.

Procedural/timeline aspects and current status

  • Bill text establishes the statutory change and authorizes Board rulemaking to implement it.
  • Effective date in the bill: October 1, 2025, and applies to violations committed on/after that date.
  • As reported in the provided docket, the bill was introduced and referred to House committees (Housing & Development; Judiciary 3; Rules). The status line shows “Serial Referral To Judiciary 3 Stricken” (i.e., one of the serial referrals was removed), indicating committee routing activity; check the Legislature’s official site for the latest status.

Practical considerations and likely impacts

  • Facilitates coordination between licensing enforcement and criminal prosecution, potentially increasing deterrence and prosecution of criminal contractor conduct.
  • Removes a legal barrier to sharing Board investigative materials with prosecutors, but may raise questions about handling of otherwise confidential records and procedural safeguards for licensees.
  • Could increase demand on Board staff and resources (and on prosecutors) if referrals increase; the bill permits rulemaking but does not appropriate funds.
  • Interacts with existing criminal statutes and prosecutorial discretion; it does not create new crimes but creates a formal referral path from the licensing board to criminal authorities.

If you want, I can draft a one‑page brief for legislators highlighting pros/cons, or a checklist of implementation tasks the Board would need (rulemaking, data‑sharing protocols, training).

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

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