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HB 674

The Firearms Liberty Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Jay Adams and 11 co-sponsors

Authorizes lifetime concealed-handgun permits in North Carolina, updates issuance/renewals, allows temporary permits, and adds DV order protections, FFL safety holds; school safes.

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Bill Summary · HB 674

Summary — HB 674: "The Firearms Liberty Act"

Status & procedural posture
- Bill number: HB 674, introduced (filed) November 12, 2024.
- Title: The Firearms Liberty Act.
- As of the provided materials the measure progressed through committee consideration (committee substitute versions and multiple readings) and was placed on calendars; check the legislative website for current enactment status and final chapter/effective date.

Purpose and intent
- To revise North Carolina law governing concealed-handgun permits and related firearms matters by (1) authorizing lifetime concealed‑handgun permits, (2) modifying renewal and training requirements, and (3) creating legal tools and protections addressing temporary firearm custody, storage, and liability (including provisions affecting persons subject to domestic‑violence protective orders, federal firearms licensees, schools, and certain businesses).

Key provisions and changes
- Lifetime concealed‑handgun permits
- Adds a defined “lifetime permit” (no expiration date) in the concealed‑handgun permit statute.
- Retains fixed‑duration (five‑year) permits; lifetime permits remain valid until revoked or surrendered.
- Permit application forms and definitions updated to reflect lifetime permit option.

  • Permit issuance, temporary permits, and processing

    • Clarifies issuance and denial procedures (e.g., 45‑day statutory timeline for the sheriff to issue/deny after application, authority to conduct necessary record checks).
    • Allows a temporary permit (not to exceed 45 days) in emergency situations (e.g., applicant can present a protective order as evidence of emergency).

  • Renewal and training exemptions

    • Creates circumstances under which a permittee whose concealed‑carry permit has lapsed will not be required to retake a firearms safety and training course when applying for renewal — language in the bill ties this relief to specified conditions (e.g., prior qualification/completion of training). (The text supplied indicates such an exemption but the precise eligibility conditions are in the full bill.)

  • Property protections for persons subject to domestic‑violence protective orders

    • Permits persons subject to a domestic‑violence protective order to protect their property rights by either (a) storing their firearms with, or (b) selling firearms through, a qualified federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL).

  • Safety‑hold agreements and liability protection for FFLs

    • Provides liability protection for an FFL that accepts firearms into a “safety hold” agreement (temporary custody) under the terms established by the bill.

  • Biometric safes and schools

    • Authorizes storage and use of defensive devices in biometric safes for schools (language in bill permits certain defensive devices to be stored/used in biometric safes on school premises); implementation details and policy limits would be governed by specific statutory language.

  • Business door‑lock exemptions

    • Broadens existing door‑lock exemptions for certain businesses (the bill amends statutory exemptions; specific categories are enumerated in the full text).

Who is affected
- Individual permit applicants and permit holders (including military and former law‑enforcement retirees referenced in the permit definitions and eligibility provisions).
- County sheriffs (administration of permits, issuance of temporary permits, renewal notices).
- Federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) — new storage/sale pathway for certain owners and liability protections for safety holds.
- Persons subject to domestic‑violence protective orders — gains options to protect/store/sell firearms while subject to orders.
- Schools and school administrators — may be affected where biometric safe storage/use of defensive devices is authorized.
- Businesses that fall within newly expanded door‑lock exemption categories.

Potential fiscal and operational impact
- Primary impacts appear administrative: sheriffs’ offices may update application/renewal processes and recordkeeping; FFLs may see modest operational changes if participating in safety‑hold agreements.
- The materials provided do not identify substantial state or local fiscal costs; any implementation costs are likely limited and administrative in nature.

Notes and caveats
- The summary is based on committee substitute and multiple editions of the bill text excerpted in the provided materials. Some provisions are described at a high level in those excerpts; readers should consult the official enrolled bill or state General Assembly website for the exact, current statutory language, eligibility criteria, and any enacted effective date.

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

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