This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Sponsor
Iler, Adams
Last action
2025-04-14
Official status
Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Effective date
Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Distracted Driving/Children and Animals.
H394-SMSU-5(e1)-v-4
(2025-03-26): Distracted Driving/Children and Animals.
What This Bill Does
H394-SMSU-5(e1)-v-4
(2025-03-26): Distracted Driving/Children and Animals.
Limits and Unknowns
This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: 2025 -2026 General Assembly
HOUSE BILL 394:
Distracted Driving/Children and Animals.
2025 -2026 General Assembly
HOUSE BILL 394:
Distracted Driving/Children and Animals.
Committee: House Transportation.
If favorable, re -refer to
Judiciary 1.
If favorable, re -refer to Rules,
Calendar, and Operations of the House
Date: March 26, 2025
Introduced by: Rep.
Bill History
2025-04-14House
Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
2025-04-14House
Withdrawn From Com
2025-04-10House
Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
2025-04-10House
Withdrawn From Com
2025-03-26House
Re-ref Com On Judiciary 1
2025-03-26House
Reptd Fav
2025-03-17House
Ref to the Com on Transportation, if favorable, Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
2025-03-17House
Passed 1st Reading
2025-03-13House
Filed
Official Summary Text
H394-SMSU-5(e1)-v-4
(2025-03-26): Distracted Driving/Children and Animals.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 394
Short Title: Distracted Driving/Children and Animals. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Iler.
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Transportation, if favorable, Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
Operations of the House
March 17, 2025
*H394-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT MAKING IT UNL AWFUL TO INTERACT WI TH CHILDREN OR ANIMA LS IN 2
AN UNSAFE MANNER WHI LE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE ON A PUBLIC 3
STREET, HIGHWAY, OR PUBLIC VEHICULAR AREA. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. Article 3 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 6
a new section to read: 7
"§ 20-137.4B. Distracted driving caused by interacting with children or animals prohibited. 8
(a) Prohibited Conduct. – It shall be unlawful for a person to operate a vehicle on a public 9
street, highway, or public vehicular area while (i) holding an animal or allowing an animal to sit 10
in the operator 's lap or (ii) interacting with a child or an animal in a manner that impairs or 11
restricts the proper operation of the motor vehicle and results in operation that is careless, 12
reckless, or heedless under the conditions then existing. 13
(b) Exception. – The provisions of this section shall not apply to fully autonomous 14
vehicles being operated in accordance with Article 18 of this Chapter. 15
(c) Penalty. – A violation of this section shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of one 16
hundred dollars ($100.00) and the costs of court. No insurance surcharge shall be assessed as a 17
result of a violation of this section." 18
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses 19
committed on or after that date. For the six months immediately after the effective date of this 20
act, law enforcement shall only issue warning tickets for offenses committed. 21