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H997 • 2025

Certify Reading of NC Constitution.

Certify Reading of NC Constitution.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Riddell, Turner, Scott, Brody, Cairns, Dixon, Johnson, Kidwell, Rubin, Ward
Last action
2025-05-08
Official status
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
Effective date
2027-01-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Certify Reading of NC Constitution.

H997-SMST-10(e1)-v-3 (2025-05-06): Certify Reading of NC Constitution.

What This Bill Does

  • H997-SMST-10(e1)-v-3 (2025-05-06): Certify Reading of NC Constitution.
  • H997-SMST-13(e1)-v-2 (2025-05-07): Certify Reading of NC Constitution.

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.

Filed

Plain English: 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 997: Certify Reading of NC Constitution.

  • 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 997: Certify Reading of NC Constitution.
  • Committee: House State and Local Government.
  • If favorable, re -refer to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Date: May 6, 2025 Introduced by: Reps.
  • Riddell, Turner, Scott, Brody Prepared by: Erika Churchill Staff Attorney Analysis of: First Edition Kara McCraw Director *H997-SMST-10(e1)-v-3* 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 does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
Filed

Plain English: 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 997: Certify Reading of NC Constitution.

  • 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 997: Certify Reading of NC Constitution.
  • Committee: House Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Date: May 7, 2025 Introduced by: Reps.
  • Riddell, Turner, Scott, Brody Prepared by: Erika Churchill Staff Attorney Analysis of: First Edition Kara McCraw Director *H997-SMST-13(e1)-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 does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
  • OVERVIEW: House Bill 997 would require every member of the General Assembly, prior to taking the oath of office, to certify whether or not that member had read, listened to, or otherwise reviewed the contents of the North Carolina Constitution and the Constitution of the United States with the previous two years.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-08 Senate

    Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  2. 2025-05-08 Senate

    Passed 1st Reading

  3. 2025-05-08 Senate

    Special Message Received From House

  4. 2025-05-08 House

    Special Message Sent To Senate

  5. 2025-05-07 House

    Passed 3rd Reading

  6. 2025-05-07 House

    Passed 2nd Reading

  7. 2025-05-07 House

    Added to Calendar

  8. 2025-05-07 House

    Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)

  9. 2025-05-07 House

    Reptd Fav

  10. 2025-05-06 House

    Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  11. 2025-05-06 House

    Reptd Fav

  12. 2025-04-14 House

    Ref to the Com on State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  13. 2025-04-14 House

    Passed 1st Reading

  14. 2025-04-10 House

    Filed

Official Summary Text

H997-SMST-10(e1)-v-3
(2025-05-06): Certify Reading of NC Constitution.
H997-SMST-13(e1)-v-2
(2025-05-07): Certify Reading of NC Constitution.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 997

Short Title: Certify Reading of NC Constitution. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Riddell, Turner, Scott, and Brody (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
House
April 14, 2025
*H997-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REQUIRE EA CH MEMBER OF THE GEN ERAL ASSEMBLY TO CER TIFY 2
WHETHER OR NOT THAT MEMBER HAS REVIEWED THE CONTENTS OF THE 3
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION 4
PRIOR TO TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
SECTION 1. G.S. 11-7 reads as rewritten: 7
"§ 11-7. Oath or affirmation to support Constitutions; all officers to take. 8
(a) Every member of the General Assembly and every person elected or appointed to 9
hold any office of trust or profit in the State shall, before taking office or entering upon the 10
execution of the office, take and subscribe to the following oath: 11
"I, ___________, do solemnly and sincerely swear that I will support the Constitution of the 12
United States; that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of North Carolina, and 13
to the constitutional powers and authorities which are or may be established for the government 14
thereof; and that I will endeavor to support, maintain and defend th e Constitution of said State, 15
not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, to the best of my knowledge and 16
ability; so help me God." 17
(b) Prior to taking the oath of office, every member of the General Assembly shall certify 18
to the Principal Clerk of the house for which that member has been elected or appointed whether 19
or not that member has read, listened to, or otherwise reviewed a copy of the Constitutions of the 20
United States and the State of North Carolina within the previous two years." 21
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective January 1, 2027. 22