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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 955
Short Title: Permit Self-Defense Devices on College Campus. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Hise (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S955-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PERMIT SELF-DEFENSE DEVICES ON HIGHER EDUCATION PROPERTY 2
AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO ADVERTISE THIS CHANGE. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 14-269.2 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 5
"(i2) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person 18 years of age or older who 6
carries or possesses, whether openly or concealed, a self-defense device on any property owned, 7
used, or operated by a school of higher education. Further, a school of higher education shall not 8
prohibit a person 18 years of age or older, including a staff member, student, employee, or other 9
person lawfully present on the property owned, used, or operated by the school of higher 10
education, from carrying a self-defense device for purposes of self -defense while on property 11
owned, used, or operated by the school of higher education. For purposes of this subsection, the 12
following definitions apply: 13
(1) School of higher education. – A community college, college, or university. 14
(2) Self-defense device. – Pepper spray, pepper gel, mace, a taser, an ordinary 15
pocket knife, or other similar nonlethal devices. This term does not include 16
any device enumerated in subsection (b), (b1), or (d) of this section that is not 17
otherwise specifically allowed under this subdivision . For purposes of this 18
subdivision, the term "ordinary pocket knife" is as defined in G.S. 14-269." 19
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 14-269 reads as rewritten: 20
"§ 14-269. Carrying concealed weapons. 21
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person willfully and intentionally to carry concealed about 22
his or her person any bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slung shot, loaded cane, metallic knuckles, razor, 23
shuriken, stun gun, or other deadly weapon of like kind, except when the person is on the person's 24
own premises. 25
… 26
(e) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a person 18 years of age or older who, 27
in accordance with G.S. 14-269.2(i2), carries concealed a self-defense device on property owned, 28
used, or operated by a school of higher education. The definitions set forth in G.S. 14-269.2(i2) 29
apply to the terms in this subsection." 30
SECTION 2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors 31
of The University of North Carolina the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in nonrecurring 32
funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to advertise the changes occurring in Section 1 of this act to 33
members of the public and students and staff at public and private institutions of higher education 34
located in North Carolina. 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 955-First Edition
SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act becomes effective December 1, 2026, and applies 1
to offenses committed on or after that date. The remainder of this act becomes effective July 1, 2
2026. 3