The STRONG Act of 2025.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 620

Short Title: The STRONG Act of 2025. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Bradley, Smith, and Everitt (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S620-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT ENACTING THE "STOPPING TRAFFICKIN G AND REINFORCING OP IOID 2
AND NARCOTICS GUARDR AILS (S.T.R.O.N.G.) ACT" TO PROVIDE FOR A 3
COMPREHENSIVE STATEW IDE RESPONSE TO THE FENTANYL CRISIS BY 4
INCREASING PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN DRUG TRAFFICKERS, CERTAIN DEATH 5
BY DISTRIBUTION OFFE NSES, AND FOR TRAFFI CKING NEAR SCHOOLS A ND 6
CERTAIN OTHER PUBLIC PLACES; ENHANCING L AW ENFORCEMENT 7
TRAINING AND RESOURCES; UPGRADING AND EXPANDING THE CONTROLLED 8
SUBSTANCES REPORTING SYSTEM; EXPANDING O PIOID US E DISORDER 9
PREVENTION, TREATMEN T AND RECOVERY PROGR AMS; APPROPRIATING 10
FUNDS FOR THESE PURPOSES; AND CREATING A TAX CREDIT FOR BUSINESSES 11
THAT HIRE EMPLOYEES WHO SUCCESSFULLY COM PLETE SUBSTANCE USE 12
DISORDER TRAINING. 13
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 14
15
PART I. TITLE 16
SECTION 1.1. This act shall be known as "The STRONG Act of 2025." 17
18
PART II. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE 19
SECTION 2.1. The General Assembly makes the following findings of fact: 20
(1) North Carolina is experiencing a severe opioid crisis, with fentanyl and 21
synthetic opioids contributing to record-high overdose deaths. 22
(2) The State lacks comprehensive measures to address substance use disorder 23
prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment access, particularly in rural and 24
underserved communities. 25
(3) The Controlled Substances Reporting System (CSRS) has been effective in 26
tracking prescription drug abuse, but it must be expanded to monitor 27
additional substances. 28
(4) Medical cannabis has been shown to provide relief for chronic pain, Post 29
Traumatic St ress Disorder, and seizure disorders. North Carolina should 30
implement a tightly regulated Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. 31
(5) Law enforcement lacks sufficient resources and training to handle synthetic 32
opioids safely and to combat cartel-driven drug trafficking. 33
(6) A public education campaign is needed to raise awareness about fentanyl 34
risks, treatment options, and drug prevention. 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 620-First Edition
PART III. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR TRAFFI CKING IN OPIUM, OPIA TES, 1
OPIOIDS, OR HEROIN 2
SECTION 3.1.(a) G.S. 90-95(h)(4) reads as rewritten: 3
"(4) Any person who sells, manufactures, delivers, transports, or possesses four 4
grams or more of opium, opiate, or opioid, or any salt, compound, derivative, 5
or preparation of opium, opiate, or opioid (except apomorphine, nalbuphine, 6
analoxone and naltrexone and their respective salts), including heroin, or any 7
mixture containing such substance, shall be guilty of a felony which felony 8
shall be known as "trafficking in opium, opiate, opioid, or heroin" and if the 9
quantity of such controlled substance or mixture involved: 10
a. Is fourtwo grams or more, but less than 14 grams, such person shall be 11
punished as a Class FE felon and shall be sentenced to a minimum 12
term of 7090 months and a maximum term of 93120 months in the 13
State's prison and shall be fined as follows: 14
1. A fine of fivetwo hundred fifty thousand dollars 15
($500,000)($250,000) if the controlled substance is heroin, 16
fentanyl, or carfentanil, or any salt, compound, derivative, or 17
preparation thereof, or any mixture containing any of these 18
substances. 19
2. A fine of not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for any 20
controlled substance described in this subdivision and not 21
otherwise subject to sub -sub-subdivision 1. of this 22
sub-subdivision. 23
b. Is 14 grams or more, but less than 28 grams, s uch person shall be 24
punished as a Class ED felon and shall be sentenced to a minimum 25
term of 90180 months and a maximum term of 120225 months in the 26
State's prison and shall be fined as follows: 27
1. A fine of sevenfive hundred fifty thousand dollars 28
($750,000)($500,000) if the controlled substance is heroin, 29
fentanyl, or carfentanil, or any salt, compound, derivative, or 30
preparation thereof, or any mixture containing any of these 31
substances. 32
2. A fine of not less than one hundred thousand dollars 33
($100,000) for any controlled substance described in this 34
subdivision and not otherwise subject to sub -sub-subdivision 35
1. of this sub-subdivision. 36
c. Is 28 grams or more, such person shall be punished as a Class CB1 37
felon and shall be sentenced to a minimum term of 225 months and a 38
maximum term of 282 monthslife imprisonment without parole in the 39
State's prison and shall be fined as follows: 40
1. A fine of onetwo million dollars ($1,000,000)($2,000,000) if 41
the controlled substance is heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil, or 42
any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof, or any 43
mixture containing any of these substances. 44
2. A fine of not less than five hundred thousand dollars 45
($500,000) for any controlled substance described in this 46
subdivision and not otherwise subject to sub -sub-subdivision 47
1. of this sub-subdivision. 48
Subject to any applicable State law , federal law, or constitutional 49
requirements, a law e nforcement agency investigating an offense under this 50
subdivision may intercept, endeavor to intercept, or procure any other person 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 620-First Edition Page 3
to intercept or endeavor to intercept, any wire, oral, or electronic 1
communication." 2
SECTION 3.1.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 3
offenses committed on or after that date. 4
5
INCREASED PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN DEATH BY DISTRIBUTION OFFENSES 6
SECTION 3.2.(a) G.S. 14-18.4(h) reads as rewritten: 7
"(h) Penalties. – Unless the c onduct is covered under some other provision of law 8
providing greater punishment, the following classifications apply to the offenses set forth in this 9
section: 10
(1) A violation of subsection (a1) of this section is a Class C felony. 11
(1a) A violation of subsection (a2) or (b) of this section is a Class B2B1 felony. 12
(2) A violation of subsection (c) of this section is a Class B1A felony." 13
SECTION 3.2.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 14
offenses committed on or after that date. 15
16
INCREASED PENALTIES FOR TRAFFICKING IN OPIUM, OPIATES, OPIOIDS, OR 17
HEROIN NEAR SCHOOLS AND CERTAIN OTHER PUBLIC PLACES 18
SECTION 3.3.(a) G.S. 90-95(e) reads as rewritten: 19
"(e) The prescribed punishment and degree of any offense under this Article shall be 20
subject to the following conditions, but the punishment for an offense may be increased only by 21
the maximum authorized under any one of the applicable conditions: 22
… 23
(11) Any person 21 years of age or older who commits an offense under 24
G.S. 90-95(h)(4) on property used for a child care center, or for an elementary 25
or secondary school, or for a playground, or within 1,500 feet of the boundary 26
of real property used for a child care center, an elementary or secondary 27
school, or a playground, shall be punished as a Class B1 felon. For purposes 28
of this subdivision, the te rm "child care center " is as defined in subdivision 29
(8) of this subsection. 30
(12) Any person 21 years of age or older who commits an offense under 31
G.S. 90-95(h)(4) on property used for a public park, shopping mall, or transit 32
station, or within 1,500 feet of the boundary of real property used for a public 33
park, shopping mal l, or transit station , shall have the minimum term of 34
imprisonment to which the person is sentenced for that felony increased by 60 35
months." 36
SECTION 3.3.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 37
offenses committed on or after that date. 38
39
PART IV. LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING AND RESOURCES 40
41
FUND STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION DRUG TASK FORCE 42
SECTION 4.1.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Bureau 43
of Investigation the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 44
fiscal year to be used to support and expand its Drug Task Force. 45
SECTION 4.1.(b) This section becomes effective July 1, 2025. 46
47
ESTABLISH STATE AND FEDERAL DRUG INTERDICTION TASK FORCE 48
SECTION 4.2. Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 49
a new section to read: 50
"§ 90-95.2A. Establish State and Federal Drug Interdiction Task Force. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 Senate Bill 620-First Edition
(a) Task Force Established. – There is established the State and Federal Drug Interdiction 1
Task Force within the Department of Public Safety. 2
(b) Membership. – The Task Force shall consist of 9 members. The composition of the 3
Task Force shall include the following members: 4
(1) The Secretary of the Department of Public Safety or the Secretary's designee. 5
(2) The Director of the State Bureau of Investigation or the Director's designee. 6
(3) The Commander of the State Highway Patrol or the Commander's designee. 7
(4) The Chairman of the North Carolina Sheriffs ' Association or the Chairman 's 8
designee. 9
(5) The President of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police or the 10
President's designee. 11
(6) The Executive Director of the North Carolina Conference of District attorneys 12
or the Executive Director's designee. 13
(7) At the invitation of the State, t he Administrator of the United State Drug 14
Enforcement Administration or the Administrator 's designee. This member 15
shall be a nonvoting member. 16
(8) At the invitation of the State, the Director of United States Immigration and 17
Customs Enforcement or the Director 's designee. This member shall be a 18
nonvoting member. 19
(9) At the invitation of the State, the Chi ef of the United States Border Patrol or 20
the Chief's designee. This member shall be a nonvoting member. 21
(c) Purpose. – The purpose of the Task Force is to encourage and effectuate collaboration 22
between State and federal entities for the interdiction of illegal controlled substances within the 23
State of North Carolina. 24
(d) Chair; Meetings; Quorum. – The members shall elect a chair, and the Task Force shall 25
meet at the call of the chair. A majority of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum for the 26
transaction of its business. 27
(e) Per Diem, Travel, and Expenses. – Members of the Task Force shall receive per diem 28
and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with G.S. 120-3.1, 138 -5, and 29
138-6, as applicable. 30
(f) Report. – No later than March 1 of each year, the Task Force shall report to the Joint 31
Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety any findings, legislative proposals, 32
or other information the Task Force determines would aid State and federal law enforcement 33
officers and agencies in the interdiction of illegal controlled substances within the State of North 34
Carolina. 35
36
REQUIRE MANDATORY OPIOID DETECTION TRAINING FOR ALL LAW 37
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS 38
SECTION 4.3.(a) G.S. 17C-6(a) reads as rewritten: 39
"§ 17C-6. Powers of Commission. 40
(a) In addition to powers conferred upon the Commission elsewhere in this Article, the 41
Commission shall have the following powers, which shall be enforceable through its rules and 42
regulations, certification procedures, or the provisions of G.S. 17C-10: 43
… 44
(14) Establish minimum standards for in -service training for criminal justice 45
officers. In-service training standards for sworn law enforcement officers shall 46
include all of the following training topics: 47
… 48
j. Opioid detection. 49
…." 50
SECTION 4.3.(b) G.S. 17E-4(a) reads as rewritten: 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 620-First Edition Page 5
"§ 17E-4. Powers and duties of the Commission. 1
(a) The Commission shall have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities, which 2
are enforceable through its rules and regulations, certification procedures , or the provisions of 3
G.S. 17E-8 and G.S. 17E-9: 4
… 5
(11) Establish minimum standards for in -service training for justice officers. 6
In-service training standards for sworn law enforcement officers shall include 7
all of the following training topics: 8
… 9
j. Opioid detection. 10
…." 11
SECTION 4.3.(c) This section becomes effective January 1, 2026, and applies to 12
in-service training occurring on or after that date. 13
14
PART V. CONTROLLED S UBSTANCES REPORTING SYSTEM EXPANSION AND 15
UPGRADES 16
SECTION 5.1.(a) G.S. 90-113.73 reads as rewritten: 17
"§ 90-113.73. Requirements for controlled substances reporting system; civil penalties for 18
failure to properly report. 19
… 20
(b) The Commission shall adopt rules requiring dispensers to report the following 21
information. The Commission may m odify these requirements as necessary to carry out the 22
purposes of this Article. The dispenser shall report: 23
(1) The dispenser's DEA number for prescriptions of controlled substances, and 24
for prescriptions of gabapentin, xylazine, and nitazenes whether the dispenser 25
has a DEA number. 26
(2) The name of the patient for whom the controlled substance is being dispensed, 27
and the patient's: 28
a. Full address, including city, state, and zip code. 29
b. Telephone number. 30
c. Date of birth. 31
(3) The date the prescription was written. 32
(4) The date the prescription was filled. 33
(5) The prescription number. 34
(6) Whether the prescription is new or a refill. 35
(7) The metric quantity of the dispensed drug. 36
(8) The estimated days of supply of dispensed drug, if provided to the dispenser. 37
(9) The National Drug Code of dispensed drug. 38
(10) The prescriber's DEA number for prescriptions of controlled substances, and 39
for prescriptions of gabapentin, xylazine, and nitazenes if the prescriber has a 40
DEA number and the number is known by the dispenser. 41
(10a) The presciber's prescriber's national provider identification number, for any 42
prescriber that has a national provider identification number. A pharmacy 43
shall not be subject to a civil penalty under subsection (e) of this section for 44
failure to report the prescriber's national provider identification number when 45
it is not received by the pharmacy. 46
(11) The method of payment for the prescription. 47
(c) A dispenser shall not be required to report instances in which a controlled substance, 48
or gabapentin, is xylazine, or nitazenes are provided directly to the ultimate user and the quantity 49
provided does not exceed a 48-hour supply. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 Senate Bill 620-First Edition
(c1) A dispenser shall not be required to report gabapentin to the controlled substances 1
reporting system when gabapentin is gabapentin, xylazine, or n itazenes are a component of a 2
compounded prescription that is dispensed in dosages of 100 milligrams or less. 3
(d) A dispenser shall not be required to report instances in which a Schedule V 4
non-narcotic, non-anorectic Schedule V controlled substance is provided directly to the ultimate 5
user for the purpose of assessing a therapeutic response when prescribed according to indications 6
approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. 7
… 8
(f) For purposes of this section, a "dispenser" includes a person licensed to practice 9
veterinary medicine pursuant to Article 11 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes when that person 10
dispenses any Schedule II through V controlled substance or gabapentin.gabapentin, xylazine, or 11
nitazenes. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall adopt rules 12
requiring the information to be reported by a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine 13
pursuant to Article 11 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. 14
…." 15
SECTION 5.1.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 16
acts occurring on or after that date. 17
SECTION 5.2. Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund 18
to the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabiliti es, and Substance Use Services 19
(DMH/DD/SUS), the sum of three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) in 20
nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to upgrade data analytics and automation within 21
the Controlled Substances Reporting System. 22
SECTION 5.3. The DMH/DD/SUS shall work towards connecting the Controlled 23
Substances Reporting System to federal data sharing networks through data sharing agreements 24
with federal agencies to track cross -border drug trafficking trends. The DMH/DD/SUS shal l 25
submit a progress report on the status of its work under this section to the Joint Legislative 26
Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division by 27
December 1, 2025. 28
29
PART VI. APPROPRIATI ONS FOR OPIOID USE D ISORDER EDUCATI ON, 30
PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RECOVERY SERVICES 31
SECTION 6.1. Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund 32
to the DMH/DD/SUS the sum of thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) in nonrecurring funds 33
for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to be allocated and used as follows: 34
(1) Fentanyl Overdose Education and Prevention. – Five million dollars 35
($5,000,000) to do all of the following: 36
a. To conduct a statewide public awareness campaign targeting fentanyl 37
overdose prevention. These campaigns s hall include, at a minimum, 38
public service announcements, billboards, and social media campaigns 39
focused on fentanyl overdose prevention. 40
b. To purchase naloxone for local health departments to distribute free of 41
charge to community groups and schools. Loc al health departments 42
that are recipients of these funds shall provide training free of charge 43
to the community groups and schools that are recipients of the 44
naloxone funded by this section. 45
c. To create a web page that publishes overdose data in real -time and 46
notifies the public about available treatment options and resources. 47
(2) Expansion of State -Funded Medication -Assisted Treatment Programs. – 48
Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) to do all of the following: 49
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 620-First Edition Page 7
a. To expand State -funded medication -assisted treatment programs 1
throughout the State, with priority given to programs located in rural 2
or underserved counties experiencing high overdose rates. 3
b. To provide grants to counties for the purchase of mobile opioid 4
treatment units to be used to provide screening, assessment, treatment, 5
primary care, and recovery support services. In awarding grants 6
authorized by this subdivision, the DMH/DD/SUS shall give priority 7
to counties with the greatest shortage of medication-assisted treatment 8
providers. 9
c. To transfer funds to the Department of Justice to provide individuals 10
who are incarcerated with access to medication -assisted treatment 11
utilizing a medication approved by the United States Food and Drug 12
Administration for opioid use disorder. 13
(3) Expansion of Co mmunity-Based Rehabilitation Programs. – Eight million 14
dollars ($8,000,000) to do both of the following: 15
a. To provide directed grants on a competitive basis to charitable, 16
faith-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and other 17
community-based organ izations for the delivery or expansion of 18
opioid use disorder treatment and recovery programs or services. 19
b. It is the intention of the General Assembly to establish a certification 20
process for charitable, nonprofit, faith-based rehabilitation centers for 21
individuals with opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders. 22
To that end, the DMH/DD/SUS may use up to two percent (2%) of the 23
funds authorized by this subdivision to study and develop 24
recommendations on this issue. By May 1, 2026, the DMH/DD/S US 25
shall report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative 26
Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal 27
Research Division. The DMH/DD/SUS shall not implement a 28
certification process for charitable, nonprofit, faith -based 29
rehabilitation centers without an act of the General Assembly. 30
(4) Rural Drug Crisis Response. – Seven million dollars ($7,000,000) to be used 31
to increase the number of mobile treatment clinics and to expand access to 32
telehealth addiction counseling services in rural areas of the State. 33
34
PART VII. TAX CREDIT FOR BUSINESSES THAT HIRE EMPLOYEES WHO 35
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TRAINING 36
SECTION 7.1.(a) Article 4 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes is amended by 37
adding a new section to read: 38
"§ 105-153.12. Substance use recovery tax credit. 39
(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 40
(1) Eligible business. – An employer that pays fair market wages to a n eligible 41
employee for the requisite duration. 42
(2) Eligible employee. – An individual who (i) has been an employee of an 43
eligible business for the requisite duration and (ii) has successfully completed 44
substance use disorder counseling with a qualifying provider. 45
(3) Employee. – As defined in G.S. 105-163.1 46
(4) Employer. – As defined in G.S. 105-163.1. 47
(5) Individual. – As defined in G.S. 105-163.1. 48
(6) Pass-through entity. – A partnership, an S -corporation, or a limited liability 49
company subject to income tax under Part 1A or Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 50
105 of the General Statutes. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 8 Senate Bill 620-First Edition
(7) Qualifying provider. – A substance use disorder counseling provid er 1
registered, certified, or licensed under Article 5C of Chapter 90 of the General 2
Statutes. 3
(8) Requisite duration. – A period of time not less than eight months per calendar 4
year. 5
(9) Substance abuser. – As defined in G.S. 122C-3. 6
(10) Substance use disorder counseling. – As defined in G.S. 90-113.31A. 7
(11) Taxable year. – As defined in G.S. 105-163.1. 8
(12) Wages. – As defined in G.S. 105-163.1. 9
(b) Credit. – A taxpayer that is an eligible business is entitled to a nonrefundable income 10
tax credit against the taxes imposed by Part 1, Part 1A, or Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 105 of 11
the General Statutes, as appropriate, equal to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per 12
eligible employee of the eligible business. 13
(c) Allocation. – This subsection applies to eligible businesses that are pass -through 14
entities. Each individual who is a shareholder, partner, or member of an eligible business that is 15
a pass-through entity must be allocated the credit allowed the entity in an amount determined in 16
the same manner as the proportionate shares of income or loss of such entity would be 17
determined. The entity must make an irrevocable election with the Department of Revenue as to 18
the manner in which the credit is allocated. If an individual 's share of the pass -through entity's 19
credit is limited due to the maximum allowable credit under this section for a taxable year, the 20
entity and its owners may not reallocate the unused credit among the other owners. 21
(d) Limitation. – The credit allowed under this section per eligible business shall not 22
exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per taxable year. 23
(e) Substantiation. – A taxpayer allowed a c redit under this section must maintain and 24
make available for inspection any information or records required by the Secretary of Revenue. 25
The burden of proving eligibility for a credit under this section rests upon the taxpayer. The 26
taxpayer must obtain and submit documentation from the qualifying provider verifying that the 27
eligible employee has successfully completed substance use disorder counseling; provided, 28
however, that an eligible employee may disclose, but shall not be r equired to disclose , any 29
protected health information protected by State or federal law." 30
SECTION 7.1.(b) This act is effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 31
1, 2025. 32
33
PART VIII. EFFECTIVE DATE 34
SECTION 8.1. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 35
law. 36