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Bill Summary · HB 1134

Summary of HB 1134 (Session 2025, North Carolina)

Title

Secret Peeping on Minor/Increase Punishment

Purpose

To increase the punishment for secret peeping offenses when the victim is a minor and to expand related conduct penalties and protections under North Carolina law (G.S. 14-202).

Key Provisions

  • Expanded penalties for peeping offenses involving a minor (G.S. 14-202):

    • General peeping into a room occupied by another person:
    • If the victim is a minor: Class A1 misdemeanor (in addition to existing penalties for adult victims).
    • Peeping underneath or through clothing to view a person’s body or undergarments:
    • If the victim is a minor: Class A1 misdemeanor.
    • Possession of a device with intent to create a photographic image while secretly peeping into a room:
    • If the victim is a minor: Class I felony.
    • Peeping with the use of a device to create a photographic image for arousing or gratifying sexual desire:
    • If the victim is a minor: Class I felony (the bill notes Class H felony for such conduct against a minor when the device is used to image private areas; see also subparts below for related subsections).
    • Intent to create a photographic image of a private area without consent (under private privacy expectations):
    • If the victim is a minor: Class H felony.
    • Installing or using a device to capture an image of another without consent, for arousal or sexual gratification:
    • If the victim is a minor: Class H felony.
    • Possessing a photographic image known to be obtained in violation of this section:
    • If the victim is a minor: Class H felony (instead of Class I felony, per the newer minor-protection provisions).
    • Disseminating or permitting dissemination of images obtained via violation of this section:
    • If the victim is a minor: Class G felony.

  • Definitions (Section 1, §14-202):

    • Minor: Anyone under 18 years old.
    • Photographic image: Any photograph, video, or digital image, still or moving.
    • Private area: Naked or undergarment-covered genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breasts.
    • Room: Includes bedrooms, restrooms, bathrooms, showers, dressing rooms, stalls, cubicles, etc., designed to provide privacy.
    • Reasonable expectation of privacy: Situations where a person would believe they could disrobe in privacy or that private areas would not be visible to the public.

  • Related subsections (a, a1, c–h):

    • The bill sets specific felony classifications (Class I or Class H) for minor victims across several peeping-related activities and image-creation/dissemination offenses.
    • The baseline penalties for adults (e.g., Class 1 misdemeanor, Class A1 misdemeanor) are carried forward when the victim is an adult.

Effective Dates

  • Section 1 (penalties and definitions): Effective for offenses committed on or after December 1, 2026.
  • Other provisions (general requirements and related provisions): Effective July 1, 2026.

Financial Appropriation

  • Public awareness campaign: The bill appropriates $25,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety to develop and implement a marketing campaign to educate the public about G.S. 14-202 as amended.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary impact: Minors who are victims of secret peeping or image-creation/dissemination offenses, potentially increasing the severity of charges (up to Class H felony) and the associated penalties.
  • Secondary impact: Individuals who commit peeping offenses (with or without devices) and those who possess or disseminate images derived from such offenses; law enforcement, the courts, and the Department of Public Safety will handle heightened penalties and related enforcement actions.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • The bill specifies that its enhanced minor-protection provisions apply to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2026.
  • Other sections take effect July 1, 2026.
  • A dedicated funding line exists for a public awareness campaign to inform the public about the amended statute.

Note

  • The bill uses several cross-references to existing law and clarifies when greater punishment under other statutes would apply.
  • The summary reflects the text as introduced in HB 1134 and may be subject to amendments during the legislative process.

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

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