Permit/Provisional License Modifications.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 584
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/30/25

Short Title: Permit/Provisional License Modifications. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
April 1, 2025
*H584-v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT ELIMINATING D RIVING ELIGIBILITY C ERTIFICATE AND DRIVI NG LOG 2
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF LIMITED LEARNER'S PERMITS A ND 3
PROVISIONAL DRIVERS LICENSES, AUTHORIZING ONLINE APPLICATION FOR 4
FULL PROVISIONAL DRI VERS LICENSES, TEMPORARILY REDUCING THE 5
MINIMUM TIME PERIOD REQUIRED FOR HOLDING A LIMITED LEARNER'S 6
PERMIT, EXTENDING THE AMOUNT OF TIME A NEW RESIDENT HAS TO OBTAIN 7
A LICENSE IN THIS ST ATE, AND REQUIRING T HE DIVISION OF MOTOR 8
VEHICLES TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS. 9
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 10
11
PART I. ELIMINATE DR IVING ELIGIBILITY CE RTIFICATE AND DRIVIN G LOG 12
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF LEARNER 'S PERMITS AND 13
PROVISIONAL DRIVERS LICENSES 14
SECTION 1. G.S. 20-11 reads as rewritten: 15
"§ 20-11. Issuance of limited learner's permit and provisional drivers license to person who 16
is less than 18 years old. 17
… 18
(b) Level 1. – A person who is at least 15 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain 19
a limited learner's permit if the person meets all of the following requirements: 20
… 21
(3) Has a driving eligibility certificate or a high school diploma or its equivalent. 22
… 23
(d) Level 2. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain 24
a limited provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements: 25
… 26
(4) Has a driving eligibility certificate or a high school diploma or its equivalent. 27
(5) Has completed a driving log, on a form approved by the Division, detailing a 28
minimum of 60 hours as the operator of a motor vehicle of a class for which 29
the driver has been issued a limited learner's permit. The log must show at 30
least 10 hours of the required driving occurred during nighttime hours. No 31
more than 10 hours of driving per week may be counted toward the 60 -hour 32
requirement. The driving log must be signed by the supervising driver and 33
submitted to the Division at the time the applicant seeks to obtain a limited 34
provisional license. If the Division has cause to believe that a driving log has 35
been falsified, the limited learner's permit holder shall be required to complete 36
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 584-Second Edition
a new driving log with the same requirements and shall not be eligible to 1
obtain a limited provisional license for six months. 2
… 3
(f) Level 3. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain 4
a full provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements: 5
… 6
(3) Has a driving eligibility certificate or a high school diploma or its equivalent. 7
(4) Has completed a driving log, on a form approved by the Division, detailing a 8
minimum of 12 hours as the operator of a motor vehicle of a class for which 9
the driver is licensed. The log must show at least six hours of the required 10
driving occurred during nighttime hours. The driving log must be signed by 11
the supervising driver for any hours driven outside the provisions of 12
subdivision (e)(2) of this section and submitted to the Division at the time the 13
applicant seeks to obtain a full provisional license. If the Division has cause 14
to believe that a driving log has been falsified, the limited provisional licensee 15
shall be required to complete a new driving log with the same requirements 16
and shall not be eligible to obtain a full provisional license for six months. 17
… 18
(h) Exception for Persons 16 to 18 Who Have an Unrestricted Out-of-State License. – A 19
person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old, who was a resident of another state 20
and has an unrestricted drivers license issued by that state, and who becomes a resident of this 21
State may obtain one of the following upon the submission of a driving eligibility certificate or 22
a high school diploma or its equivalent:following: 23
… 24
(n) Driving Eligibility Certificate. – A person who desires to obtain a permit or license 25
issued under this section must have a high school diploma or its equivalent or must have a driving 26
eligibility certificate. A driving eligibility certificate must meet the following conditions: 27
(1) The person who is required to sign the certificate under subdivision (4) of this 28
subsection must show that he or she has determined that one of the following 29
requirements is met: 30
a. The person is currently enrolled in school and is making progress 31
toward obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent. 32
b. A substantial hardship would be placed on the person or the person's 33
family if the person does not receive a certificate. 34
c. The person cannot make progress toward obtaining a high school 35
diploma or its equivalent. 36
(1a) The person who is required to sign the certificate under subdivision (4) of this 37
subsection also must show that one of the following requirements is met: 38
a. The person who seeks a permit or license issued under this section is 39
not subject to subsection (n1) of this section. 40
b. The person who seeks a permit or license issued under this section is 41
subject to subsection (n1) of this section and is eligible for the 42
certificate under that subsection. 43
(2) It must be on a form approved by the Division. 44
(3) It must be dated within 30 days of the date the person applies for a permit or 45
license issuable under this section. 46
(4) It must be signed by the applicable person named below: 47
a. The principal, or the principal's designee, of the public school in which 48
the person is enrolled. 49
b. The administrator, or the administrator's designee, of the nonpublic 50
school in which the person is enrolled. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 584-Second Edition Page 3
c. The person who provides the academic instruction in the home school 1
in which the person is enrolled. 2
c1. The person who provides the academic instruction in the home in 3
accordance with an educational program found by a court, prior to July 4
1, 1998, to comply with the compulsory attendance law. 5
d. The designee of the board of directors of the charter school in which 6
the person is enrolled. 7
e. The president, or the president's designee, of the community college 8
in which the person is enrolled. 9
Notwithstanding any other law, the decision concerning whether a driving eligibility 10
certificate was properly issued or improperly denied shall be appealed only as provided under 11
the rules adopted in accordance with G.S. 115C-12(28), 115D-5(a3), or 115C-566, whichever is 12
applicable, and may not be appealed under this Chapter. 13
(n1) Lose Control; Lose License. 14
(1) The following definitions apply in this subsection: 15
a. Applicable State entity. – The State Board of Education for public 16
schools and charter schools, the State Board of Community Colleges 17
for community colleges, or the Secretary of Administration for 18
nonpublic schools and home schools. 19
b. Certificate. – A driving eligibility certificate that meets the conditions 20
of subsection (n) of this section. 21
c. Disciplinary action. – An expulsion, a suspension for more than 10 22
consecutive days, or an assignment to an alternative educational 23
setting for more than 10 consecutive days. 24
d. Enumerated student conduct. – One of the following beh aviors that 25
results in disciplinary action: 26
1. The possession or sale of an alcoholic beverage or an illegal 27
controlled substance on school property. 28
2. The bringing, possession, or use on school property of a 29
weapon or firearm that resulted in disciplinar y action under 30
G.S. 115C-390.10 or that could have resulted in that 31
disciplinary action if the conduct had occurred in a public 32
school. 33
3. The physical assault on a teacher or other school personnel on 34
school property. 35
e. School. – A public school, charter school, community college, 36
nonpublic school, or home school. 37
f. School administrator. – The person who is required to sign certificates 38
under subdivision (4) of subsection (n) of this section. 39
g. School property. – The physical premises of the school, sch ool buses 40
or other vehicles under the school's control or contract and that are 41
used to transport students, and school -sponsored curricular or 42
extracurricular activities that occur on or off the physical premises of 43
the school. 44
h. Student. – A person who d esires to obtain a permit or license issued 45
under this section. 46
(2) Any student who was subject to disciplinary action for enumerated student 47
conduct that occurred either after the first day of July before the school year 48
in which the student enrolled in t he eighth grade or after the student's 49
fourteenth birthday, whichever event occurred first, is subject to this 50
subsection. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 House Bill 584-Second Edition
(3) A student who is subject to this subsection is eligible for a certificate when 1
the school administrator determines that the stude nt has exhausted all 2
administrative appeals connected to the disciplinary action and that one of the 3
following conditions is met: 4
a. The enumerated student conduct occurred before the student reached 5
the age of 15, and the student is now at least 16 years old. 6
b. The enumerated student conduct occurred after the student reached the 7
age of 15, and it is at least one year after the date the student exhausted 8
all administrative appeals connected to the disciplinary action. 9
c. The student needs the certificate in order to drive to and from school, 10
a drug or alcohol treatment counseling program, as appropriate, or a 11
mental health treatment program, and no other transportation is 12
available. 13
(4) A student whose permit or license is denied or revoked due to ineligibility for 14
a certificate under this subsection may otherwise be eligible for a certificate 15
if, after six months from the date of the ineligibility, the school administrator 16
determines that one of the following conditions is met: 17
a. The student has returned to school or has been placed in an alternative 18
educational setting, and has displayed exemplary student behavior, as 19
defined by the applicable State entity. 20
b. The disciplinary action was for the possession or sale of an alcoholic 21
beverage or an illegal controlled substance on school property, and the 22
student subsequently attended and successfully completed, as defined 23
by the applicable State entity, a drug or alcohol treatment counseling 24
program, as appropriate." 25
26
PART II. AUTHORIZE ONLINE APPLICATION TO OBTAIN A FULL PROVISIONAL 27
DRIVERS LICENSE 28
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 20-11(f) reads as rewritten: 29
"(f) Level 3. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain 30
a full provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements: 31
(1) Has held a limited provisional license issued by the Division for at least six 32
months. 33
(2) Has not been convicted of a motor vehicle moving violation or seat belt 34
infraction or a violation of G.S. 20-137.3 during the preceding six months. 35
(3) Has a driving eligibility certificate or a high school diploma or its equivalent. 36
(4) Has completed a driving log, on a form approved by the Division, detailing a 37
minimum of 12 hours as the operator of a motor vehicle of a class for which 38
the driver i s licensed. The log must show at least six hours of the required 39
driving occurred during nighttime hours. The driving log must be signed by 40
the supervising driver for any hours driven outside the provisions of 41
subdivision (e)(2) of this section and submitted to the Division at the time the 42
applicant seeks to obtain a full provisional license. If the Division has cause 43
to believe that a driving log has been falsified, the limited provisional licensee 44
shall be required to complete a new driving log with the s ame requirements 45
and shall not be eligible to obtain a full provisional license for six months. 46
A person who meets these requirements may obtain a full provisional license by applying online 47
or by mail." 48
SECTION 2.(b) The Division of Motor Vehicles shall develop a process by which 49
an applicant for a Level 3 full provisional license may submit any documentation required to 50
establish eligibility to obtain the license, electronically or by mail, without having to appear in 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 584-Second Edition Page 5
person at a drivers license office. The Division shall issue a Level 3 full provisional license to an 1
applicant who meets the statutory requirements and provides required documentation 2
electronically or by mail. 3
4
PART III. CONFORMING CHANGES 5
SECTION 3.(a) The following statutes are repealed: 6
(1) G.S. 20-9(b1). 7
(2) G.S. 20-13.2(c1). 8
(3) G.S. 115C-12(28). 9
(4) G.S. 115C-218.70. 10
(5) G.S. 115C-238.66(8). 11
(6) G.S. 115C-288(k). 12
(7) G.S. 115C-566. 13
(8) G.S. 115D-5(a3). 14
SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 115C-150.12C reads as rewritten: 15
"§ 115C-150.12C. Powers and duties. 16
A board of trustees shall adopt rules necessary for the administration of the school to 17
implement the requirements of this Article. Each board of trustees shall have the following 18
powers and duties: 19
… 20
(19) Driving eligibility certificates and drive rs Drivers education. – The board of 21
trustees shall apply the rules and policies established by the State Board of 22
Education for issuance of driving eligibility certificates. The board of trustees 23
shall provide drivers education in accordance with Article 14 of this Chapter. 24
…." 25
26
PART IV. TEMPORARILY REDUCE THE MINIMUM TIME PERIOD REQUIRED 27
FOR HOLDING A LIMITED LEARNER'S PERMIT 28
SECTION 4. G.S. 20-11(d) reads as rewritten: 29
"(d) Level 2. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain 30
a limited provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements: 31
(1) Has held a limited learner's permit issued by the Division for at least nine six 32
months. 33
…." 34
35
PART V. EXTEND THE AMOUNT OF TIME A NEW RESIDENT HAS TO OBTAIN A 36
LICENSE IN NORTH CAROLINA 37
SECTION 5. G.S. 20-7(a) reads as rewritten: 38
"(a) License Required. – To drive a motor vehicle on a highway, a person must be licensed 39
by the Division under this Article or Article 2C of this Chapter to drive the vehicle and must 40
carry the license while driving the vehicle. The Division issues regular drivers licenses under this 41
Article and issues commercial drivers licenses under Article 2C. 42
A license authorizes the holder of the license to drive any vehicle included in the class of the 43
license and any vehicle included in a lesser class of license, except a vehicle for which an 44
endorsement is required. To drive a vehicle for which an endorsement is required, a person must 45
obtain both a license and an endorsement for the vehicle. A regular drivers license is considered 46
a lesser class of license than its commercial counterpart. 47
The classes of regular drivers licenses and the motor vehicles that can be driven with each 48
class of license are: 49
(1) Class A. – A Class A license authorizes the holder to drive any of the 50
following: 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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a. A Class A motor vehicle that is exempt under G.S. 20-37.16 from the 1
commercial drivers license requirements. 2
b. A Class A motor vehicle that has a combined GVWR of less than 3
26,001 pounds and includes as part of the combination a towed unit 4
that has a GVWR of at least 10,001 pounds. 5
(2) Class B. – A Class B license authorizes the holder to drive any Class B motor 6
vehicle that is exempt under G.S. 20-37.16 from the commercial drivers 7
license requirements. 8
(3) Class C. – A Class C license authorizes the holder to drive any of the 9
following: 10
a. A Class C motor vehicle that is not a commercial motor vehicle. 11
b. When operated by a volunteer member of a fire department, a rescue 12
squad, or an emergency medical service (EMS) in the performance of 13
duty, a Class A or Class B fire-fighting, rescue, or EMS motor vehicle 14
or a combination of these vehicles. 15
c. A combination of noncommercial motor vehicles that have a GVWR 16
of more than 10,000 pounds but less than 26,001 pounds. T his 17
sub-subdivision does not apply to a Class C license holder less than 18 18
years of age. 19
The Commissioner may assign a unique motor vehicle to a class that is different from the 20
class in which it would otherwise belong. 21
A person holding a commercial drivers license issued by another jurisdiction must apply for 22
a transfer and obtain a North Carolina issued commercial drivers license within 30 days of 23
becoming a resident. Any other new resident of North Carolina who has a drivers license issued 24
by another jurisdiction must obtain a license from the Division within 60 days six months after 25
becoming a resident. The Division shall waive the vision exam for a drivers license applicant 26
with a license issued by another jurisdiction if the license was issued within 12 months of the 27
application date. The Division shall allow the applicant to submit any documentation required by 28
the Division electronically, by mail, or in person." 29
30
PART VI. DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO M AKE EFFORTS TO IMPRO VE 31
EFFICIENCY FOR DRIVERS LICENSE APPLICANTS 32
SECTION 6. The Division of Motor Vehicles shall make a good -faith effort to 33
prioritize new resident drivers license applicants, commercial drivers license applicants, and 34
first-time drivers license applicants in providing appointment availability. The Division shall also 35
clearly outline on the Division's website the services that are available to customers online or by 36
other means that do not require an in-person office visit. 37
38
PART VII. EFFECTIVE DATE 39
SECTION 7. Parts I through III of this act become effective October 1, 2025, and 40
apply to limited learner's permit or provisional license applications submitted on or after that 41
date. Part IV of this act is effective when it becomes law and applies to limited provisional license 42
applications submitted on or after that date. Part IV of this act expires on December 31, 2025. 43
Part V of this act becomes effective October 1, 2025. The remainder of this act is effective when 44
it becomes law. 45