Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override the Governor's veto and pass a bill that defines sex in North Carolina state law based on biological attributes and amends relevant laws.

Highlights:

• Defines the following terms for application to all administrative rules, regulations, or public policies adopted by the State or its political subdivisions (Sec. 1):

• “Biological sex” is defined as the biological indication of male and female in the context of reproductive capacity, such as sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, and genitalia present at birth, regardless of an individual’s chosen gender;

• “Female” is defined as an individual whose sex, at conception, is characterized by a reproductive system that produces eggs;

• “Gender identity” is defined as an individual’s self-declared identity that may not align with biological sex, and may not be treated as legally or biologically equivalent to sex; and

• “Male” is defined as an individual whose sex, at conception, is characterized by a reproductive system that produces sperm.

• Specifies that Section 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits websites from publishing pornographic imagery without verifying that each individual appearing is at least 18 years of age, and has provided written consent for each act performed as well as the image’s distribution (Sec. 2).

• Requires website operators to obtain written consent from each individual appearing in each specific pornographic image on its website, as well as a form of valid identification showing each individual’s age as at least 18 years (Sec. 2).

• Requires website operators to remove pornographic material within 72 hours of a request of an individual appearing in the material or a law enforcement officer (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Attorney General to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day, per image against a website operator who violates the provisions of this Section (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes an individual appearing in a pornographic image that is published in violation of this Section to take civil action against a user of the website of up to $10,000 per day, per image (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that Section 2 of this Act takes effect December 1, 2025 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the use of state funds for surgical gender transition procedures, puberty-blocking drugs, or cross-sex hormones for any prisoner in the State (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the previous paragraph takes effect July 1, 2025 (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes legal action for malpractice within 10 years of the performance of gender transition that results in injury (Sec. 3).

• Requires local boards of education to adopt policies to allow a student or their parent or guardian to request to be excused from classroom discussions based on their religious beliefs (Sec. 3).

• Requires all schools to display their library catalog on their public website, and allow a parent or guardian to identify books that may not be borrowed by their child (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits students from sharing sleeping quarters with a member of the other biological sex, except for an immediate family member, during any activity or event authorized by a public school (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that Section 3, except as otherwise noted, takes effect upon passage (Sec. 3).

• Requires the preservation of the original birth certificate alongside any new birth certificate that shows a different sex (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that Section 4 of this Act takes effect December 1, 2025 (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override the Governor's veto and pass a bill that defines sex in North Carolina state law based on biological attributes and amends relevant laws.

Highlights:

• Defines the following terms for application to all administrative rules, regulations, or public policies adopted by the State or its political subdivisions (Sec. 1):

• “Biological sex” is defined as the biological indication of male and female in the context of reproductive capacity, such as sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, and genitalia present at birth, regardless of an individual’s chosen gender;

• “Female” is defined as an individual whose sex, at conception, is characterized by a reproductive system that produces eggs;

• “Gender identity” is defined as an individual’s self-declared identity that may not align with biological sex, and may not be treated as legally or biologically equivalent to sex; and

• “Male” is defined as an individual whose sex, at conception, is characterized by a reproductive system that produces sperm.

• Specifies that Section 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits websites from publishing pornographic imagery without verifying that each individual appearing is at least 18 years of age, and has provided written consent for each act performed as well as the image’s distribution (Sec. 2).

• Requires website operators to obtain written consent from each individual appearing in each specific pornographic image on its website, as well as a form of valid identification showing each individual’s age as at least 18 years (Sec. 2).

• Requires website operators to remove pornographic material within 72 hours of a request of an individual appearing in the material or a law enforcement officer (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Attorney General to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day, per image against a website operator who violates the provisions of this Section (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes an individual appearing in a pornographic image that is published in violation of this Section to take civil action against a user of the website of up to $10,000 per day, per image (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that Section 2 of this Act takes effect December 1, 2025 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the use of state funds for surgical gender transition procedures, puberty-blocking drugs, or cross-sex hormones for any prisoner in the State (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the previous paragraph takes effect July 1, 2025 (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes legal action for malpractice within 10 years of the performance of gender transition that results in injury (Sec. 3).

• Requires local boards of education to adopt policies to allow a student or their parent or guardian to request to be excused from classroom discussions based on their religious beliefs (Sec. 3).

• Requires all schools to display their library catalog on their public website, and allow a parent or guardian to identify books that may not be borrowed by their child (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits students from sharing sleeping quarters with a member of the other biological sex, except for an immediate family member, during any activity or event authorized by a public school (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that Section 3, except as otherwise noted, takes effect upon passage (Sec. 3).

• Requires the preservation of the original birth certificate alongside any new birth certificate that shows a different sex (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that Section 4 of this Act takes effect December 1, 2025 (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Josh Stein

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that defines sex in North Carolina state law based on biological attributes and amends relevant laws.

Highlights:

• Defines the following terms for application to all administrative rules, regulations, or public policies adopted by the State or its political subdivisions (Sec. 1):

• “Biological sex” is defined as the biological indication of male and female in the context of reproductive capacity, such as sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, and genitalia present at birth, regardless of an individual’s chosen gender;

• “Female” is defined as an individual whose sex, at conception, is characterized by a reproductive system that produces eggs;

• “Gender identity” is defined as an individual’s self-declared identity that may not align with biological sex, and may not be treated as legally or biologically equivalent to sex; and

• “Male” is defined as an individual whose sex, at conception, is characterized by a reproductive system that produces sperm.

• Specifies that Section 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits websites from publishing pornographic imagery without verifying that each individual appearing is at least 18 years of age, and has provided written consent for each act performed as well as the image’s distribution (Sec. 2).

• Requires website operators to obtain written consent from each individual appearing in each specific pornographic image on its website, as well as a form of valid identification showing each individual’s age as at least 18 years (Sec. 2).

• Requires website operators to remove pornographic material within 72 hours of a request of an individual appearing in the material or a law enforcement officer (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Attorney General to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day, per image against a website operator who violates the provisions of this Section (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes an individual appearing in a pornographic image that is published in violation of this Section to take civil action against a user of the website of up to $10,000 per day, per image (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that Section 2 of this Act takes effect December 1, 2025 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the use of state funds for surgical gender transition procedures, puberty-blocking drugs, or cross-sex hormones for any prisoner in the State (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the previous paragraph takes effect July 1, 2025 (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes legal action for malpractice within 10 years of the performance of gender transition that results in injury (Sec. 3).

• Requires local boards of education to adopt policies to allow a student or their parent or guardian to request to be excused from classroom discussions based on their religious beliefs (Sec. 3).

• Requires all schools to display their library catalog on their public website, and allow a parent or guardian to identify books that may not be borrowed by their child (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits students from sharing sleeping quarters with a member of the other biological sex, except for an immediate family member, during any activity or event authorized by a public school (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that Section 3, except as otherwise noted, takes effect upon passage (Sec. 3).

• Requires the preservation of the original birth certificate alongside any new birth certificate that shows a different sex (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that Section 4 of this Act takes effect December 1, 2025 (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that defines sex in North Carolina state law based on biological attributes and amends relevant laws.

Highlights:

• Defines the following terms for application to all administrative rules, regulations, or public policies adopted by the State or its political subdivisions (Sec. 1):

• “Biological sex” is defined as the biological indication of male and female in the context of reproductive capacity, such as sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, and genitalia present at birth, regardless of an individual’s chosen gender;

• “Female” is defined as an individual whose sex, at conception, is characterized by a reproductive system that produces eggs;

• “Gender identity” is defined as an individual’s self-declared identity that may not align with biological sex, and may not be treated as legally or biologically equivalent to sex; and

• “Male” is defined as an individual whose sex, at conception, is characterized by a reproductive system that produces sperm.

• Specifies that Section 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits websites from publishing pornographic imagery without verifying that each individual appearing is at least 18 years of age, and has provided written consent for each act performed as well as the image’s distribution (Sec. 2).

• Requires website operators to obtain written consent from each individual appearing in each specific pornographic image on its website, as well as a form of valid identification showing each individual’s age as at least 18 years (Sec. 2).

• Requires website operators to remove pornographic material within 72 hours of a request of an individual appearing in the material or a law enforcement officer (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Attorney General to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day, per image against a website operator who violates the provisions of this Section (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes an individual appearing in a pornographic image that is published in violation of this Section to take civil action against a user of the website of up to $10,000 per day, per image (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that Section 2 of this Act takes effect December 1, 2025 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the use of state funds for surgical gender transition procedures, puberty-blocking drugs, or cross-sex hormones for any prisoner in the State (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the previous paragraph takes effect July 1, 2025 (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes legal action for malpractice within 10 years of the performance of gender transition that results in injury (Sec. 3).

• Requires local boards of education to adopt policies to allow a student or their parent or guardian to request to be excused from classroom discussions based on their religious beliefs (Sec. 3).

• Requires all schools to display their library catalog on their public website, and allow a parent or guardian to identify books that may not be borrowed by their child (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits students from sharing sleeping quarters with a member of the other biological sex, except for an immediate family member, during any activity or event authorized by a public school (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that Section 3, except as otherwise noted, takes effect upon passage (Sec. 3).

• Requires the preservation of the original birth certificate alongside any new birth certificate that shows a different sex (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that Section 4 of this Act takes effect December 1, 2025 (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text