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Amendments
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Plain English: 2025 -2026 General Assembly
HOUSE BILL 217:
Driver Educ./18 Yrs & Older & Unlicensed.
2025 -2026 General Assembly
HOUSE BILL 217:
Driver Educ./18 Yrs & Older & Unlicensed.
Committee: House Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
House
Date: April 15, 2025
Introduced by: Reps.
Lowery, Biggs, Charles Smith Prepared by: Wendy Ray
Staff Attorney Analysis of: Second Edition
Kara McCraw
Director
*H217-SMSU-16(e2)-v-2*
Legislative Analysis
Division
919-733-2578
This bill analysis was prepared by the nonpartisan legislative staff for the use of legislators in their deliberations and do es not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
OVERVIEW: House Bill 217 would require new drivers aged 18 and older to complete a driver
education course, including alcohol and drug use awareness, in order to apply for a drivers license in
North Carolina.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 217
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/9/25
Short Title: Driver Educ./18 Yrs & Older & Unlicensed. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
February 27, 2025
*H217-v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REQUIRE A DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE, INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND 2
DRUG USE AWARENESS, FOR UNLICENSED PERSO NS EIGHTEEN YEARS AN D 3
OLDER. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. G.S. 20-7 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 6
"(a4) Driver Education. – To obtain a drivers license from the Division, an applicant must 7
complete a course of driver education prescribed in G.S. 20-330. Completion of the course is not 8
required prior to obtaining a learner's permit under subsection (l) of this section. This subsection 9
does not apply to an applicant who (i) currently holds or has previously held a drivers license 10
issued by this State or another state or (ii) has satisfactorily completed a course of driver 11
education prescribed in G.S. 115C-215." 12
SECTION 2. Article 14 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 13
a new section to read: 14
"§ 20-330. Mandatory driver education course, including drug and alcohol use awareness, 15
for unlicensed drivers 18 years and older. 16
(a) The Commissioner shall adopt rules to establish a course of driver education to be 17
offered by licensed commercial driver training schools for unlicensed individuals aged 18 and 18
older to prepare them for licensure in this State . The course shall promote traffic safety and 19
provide three hours of instruction on topics including (i) the laws of this State relating to the 20
operation of a motor vehicle, (ii) the physiological and psychological consequences of the use of 21
alcohol and other drugs and their effects on the driver of a motor vehicle, and (iii) high-risk 22
driving behaviors, such as fatigued driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving, including 23
the use of electronic devices while driving. 24
(b) Regulations adopted by the Commissioner shall ensure that the course is offered both 25
online and in person and that a method is provided to demonstrate successful completion of the 26
course." 27
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to applications 28
for drivers licenses submitted on or after that date. 29