GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2023

SESSION LAW 2024-16

HOUSE BILL 237

AN ACT to Modify the physical health and safety of others exemption to certain laws prohibiting wearing masks; to enhance punishment if the defendant was wearing a mask or other clothing or device to conceal or attempt to conceal the defendant's identity; to prohibit gubernatorial executive orders, secretarial declarations, municipal or local government prohibitions and restrictions, or other rules or regulations by a political subdivision of this state from imposing additional limitations on religious institutions that are not applicable to businesses, nonprofit organizations, or other private entities affected by the same or similar emergency; to increase the penalty for impeding a road during a demonstration or obstructing an emergency vehicle from accessing a road at any time; to create civil liability for a demonstration organizer of a demonstration that obstructs an emergency vehicle; AND TO AMEND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS REGARDING FEDERAL POLITICAL COMMITTEES AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 14‑12.11 reads as rewritten:

"§ 14‑12.11.  Exemptions from provisions of Article.

(a)        Any of the following are exempted from the provisions of G.S. 14‑12.7, 14‑12.8, 14‑12.9, 14‑12.10 and 14‑12.14:

(1)        Any person or persons wearing traditional holiday costumes in season.

(2)        Any person or persons engaged in trades and employment where a mask is worn for the purpose of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer, or because of the nature of the occupation, trade or profession.

(3)        Any person or persons using masks in theatrical productions including use in Mardi Gras celebrations and masquerade balls.

(4)        Persons wearing gas masks prescribed in civil defense drills and exercises or emergencies.

(5)        Any person or persons, as members or members elect of a society, order or organization, engaged in any parade, ritual, initiation, ceremony, celebration or requirement of such society, order or organization, and wearing or using any manner of costume, paraphernalia, disguise, facial makeup, hood, implement or device, whether the identity of such person or persons is concealed or not, on any public or private street, road, way or property, or in any public or private building, provided permission shall have been first obtained therefor by a representative of such society, order or organization from the governing body of the municipality in which the same takes place, or, if not in a municipality, from the board of county commissioners of the county in which the same takes place.

(6)        Any person wearing a medical or surgical grade mask for the purpose of ensuring the physical health or safety of the wearer or others.preventing the spread of contagious disease.

(a1)      This Article shall not apply to any preliminary meetings held in good faith for the purpose of organizing, promoting or forming a labor union or a local organization or subdivision of any labor union nor shall the provisions of this Article apply to any meetings held by a labor union or organization already organized, operating and functioning and holding meetings for the purpose of transacting and carrying out functions, pursuits and affairs expressly pertaining to such labor union.

(b)        Notwithstanding G.S. 14‑12.7 and G.S. 14‑12.8, a person may wear a mask for the purpose of protecting the person's head, face, or head and face, when operating a motorcycle, as defined in G.S. 20‑4.01. A person wearing a mask when operating a motorcycle shall remove the mask during a traffic stop, including at a checkpoint or roadblock under G.S. 20‑16.3A, or when approached by a law enforcement officer.

(c)        Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(6) of this section, a person wearing a mask for the purpose of ensuring the physical health or safety of the wearer or others shall remove the mask, upon request by a law enforcement officer, in any of the following circumstances:in accordance with subdivision (a)(6) of this section shall (i) remove the mask upon request by a law enforcement officer or (ii) temporarily remove the mask upon request by the owner or occupant of public or private property where the wearer is present to allow for identification of the wearer.

(1) During a traffic stop, including a checkpoint or roadblock pursuant to G.S. 20‑16.3A.

(2) When a law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion or probable cause during a criminal investigation."

SECTION 1.(b) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to limit, replace, or conflict with available protections or remedies under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12102 et seq., as amended, or any other applicable federal or State laws.

SECTION 1.(c)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

SECTION 2.(a)  Article 81B of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 15A‑1340.16G.  Enhanced sentence if defendant is convicted of a misdemeanor or felony and the defendant was wearing a mask or other clothing or device to conceal or attempt to conceal the defendant's identity.

(a) If a person is convicted of a misdemeanor or felony and it is found as provided in this section that the person wore a mask or other clothing or device that concealed or attempted to conceal the person's identity at the time of the offense, then the person is guilty of a misdemeanor or felony that is one class higher than the underlying misdemeanor or felony for which the person was convicted. Notwithstanding any provision of this Article to the contrary, the court shall impose a sentence of imprisonment for a person convicted of an offense enhanced under this section if, after enhancement, the class of offense and prior record level permit active punishment as a sentence disposition.

(b) An indictment or information for the offense shall allege in that indictment or information or in a separate indictment or information the facts that qualify the offense for an enhancement under this section. One pleading is sufficient for all offenses that are tried at a single trial.

(c) The State shall prove the issues set out in subsection (a) of this section beyond a reasonable doubt during the same trial in which the defendant is tried for the offense unless the defendant pleads guilty or no contest to the issues. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest to the offense but pleads not guilty to the issues laid out in subsection (a) of this section, then a jury shall be impaneled to determine the issues.

(d) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply if the evidence of wearing a mask or other clothing or device to conceal or attempt to conceal the person's identity is needed to prove an element of the underlying misdemeanor or felony."

SECTION 2.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 166A‑19.2 reads as rewritten:

"§ 166A‑19.2.  Limitations.

(a)        Nothing in this Article shall be construed to do any of the following:

(1)        Interfere with dissemination of news or comment on public affairs; but any communications facility or organization, including, but not limited to, radio and television stations, wire services, and newspapers may be requested to transmit or print public service messages furnishing information or instructions in connection with an emergency, disaster, or war.

(2)        Limit, modify, or abridge the authority of the Governor to declare martial law or exercise any other powers vested in the Governor under the North Carolina Constitution, statutes, or common law of this State independent of, or in conjunction with, any provisions of this Article.

(b) No religious institution shall be subject to an executive order, secretarial declaration, municipal or local government prohibition or restriction, or a rule or regulation by a political subdivision of this State that distinguishes between religious institutions and other public or private for‑profit or nonprofit entities that are subject to or affected by the same or similar emergency in a way that imposes additional limitations on the religious institution. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "religious institution" has the same meaning as in G.S. 131F‑2."

SECTION 3.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2024, and applies to executive orders, declarations, prohibitions, restrictions, rules, or regulations in effect on or after that date.

SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 20‑174.1 reads as rewritten:

"§ 20‑174.1.  Standing, sitting or lying upon highways or streets prohibited.prohibited; obstruction of emergency vehicles; civil liability.

(a)        No person shall willfully stand, sit, or lie A person who willfully stands, sits, or lies upon the highway or street in such a manner as to impede the regular flow of traffic.traffic is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

(b) Violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

(c) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section while participating in a demonstration intended to prohibit or impede the use of the highway or street is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class H felony for a second or subsequent offense.

(d) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section and obstructs an emergency vehicle, as defined in G.S. 14‑34.1A, from accessing the highway or street is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.

(e) Any person who organizes a demonstration that prohibits or impedes the use of a highway or street is civilly liable for injury to or death of any person resulting from delays caused by the obstruction of an emergency vehicle in violation of subsection (d) of this section. An action may be brought under this subsection regardless of whether a criminal action is brought or a criminal conviction is obtained for the conduct alleged in the civil action."

SECTION 4.(b)  This section becomes effective December 1, 2024, and applies to offenses committed and causes of action arising on or after that date.

SECTION 5.(a)  G.S. 163‑278.6 reads as rewritten:

"§ 163‑278.6.  Definitions.

When used in this Article:

…

(74)      The term "political committee" means a combination of two or more individuals, such as any person, committee, association, organization, or other entity that makes, or accepts anything of value to make, contributions or expenditures and has one or more of the following characteristics:

a.         Is controlled by a candidate;candidate.

b.         Is a political party or executive committee of a political party or is controlled by a political party or executive committee of a political party;party.

c.         Is created by a corporation, business entity, insurance company, labor union, or professional association pursuant to G.S. 163‑278.19(b); orG.S. 163‑278.19(b).

d.         Has the major purpose to support or oppose the nomination or election of one or more clearly identified candidates; [or]candidates.

e.         Is an affiliated party committee.

Supporting or opposing the election of clearly identified candidates includes supporting or opposing the candidates of a clearly identified political party.

If the entity qualifies as a "political committee" under sub‑subdivision a., b., c., or d. of this subdivision, it continues to be a political committee if it receives contributions or makes expenditures or maintains assets or liabilities. A political committee ceases to exist when it winds up its operations, disposes of its assets, and files its final report.

The term "political committee" includes the campaign of a candidate who serves as his or her own treasurer.

The term "political committee" does not include a federal political committee that is registered with and reports to the Federal Election Commission or other federal political organization that files Internal Revenue Service Form 8871 and Form 8872.

Special definitions of "political action committee" and "candidate campaign committee" that apply only in Part 2 of this Article are set forth in G.S. 163‑278.38Z.

…."

SECTION 5.(b)  G.S. 163‑278.7A reads as rewritten:

"§ 163‑278.7A.  Gifts from federal political committees.committees and organizations.

(a) It Except as limited or otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, it shall be permissible for a federal political committee, as defined by committee organized pursuant to the Federal Election Campaign Act and its regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to make contributions to a North Carolina candidate or political committee registered under this Article with the State Board of Elections or a county board of elections, provided that the contributing committee does all the following:in accordance with the applicable limits specified in G.S. 163‑278.13(a).

(1) Is registered with the State Board of Elections consistent with the provisions of this Article.

(2) Complies with reporting requirements specified by the State Board of Elections. Those requirements shall not be more stringent than those required of North Carolina political committees registered under this Article, unless the federal political committee makes any contribution to a North Carolina candidate or political committee in any election in excess of four thousand dollars ($4,000) for that election. "Election" shall be as defined in G.S. 163‑278.13(d).

(3) Makes its contributions within the limits specified in this Article.

(4) Appoints an assistant or deputy treasurer who is a resident of North Carolina and stipulates to the State Board of Elections that the designated in‑State resident assistant or deputy treasurer shall be authorized to produce whatever records reflecting political activity in North Carolina the State Board of Elections deems necessary.

(b) No federal political committee or other political organization, as defined in section 527(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and subject to the disclosure requirements of section 527(j) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, may contribute to North Carolina candidates or political committees if it accepts contributions from sources prohibited from contributing under G.S. 163‑278.19; provided, however, that any such committee or organization that also accepts and maintains in one or more segregated accounts contributions from sources not prohibited by G.S. 163‑278.19, whether or not limited in amount, may contribute to any national, State, district, or county executive committee of any political party or an affiliated party committee exclusively from such segregated account(s) containing funds from sources not prohibited by G.S. 163‑278.19.

(c) Any federal political committee or other political organization making any contribution pursuant to this section shall do all of the following:

(1) Comply with applicable reporting, operating, contribution, and other requirements and limits of federal law.

(2) Within 10 calendar days of making a permitted contribution, file with the State Board a copy of its then‑effective Statement of Organization filed with the Federal Election Commission or Internal Revenue Service Form 8871, as applicable, unless previously filed.

(3) For any federal filing period during which the contributing committee or organization makes a permitted contribution, submit to the State Board a copy of its regularly required report filed with the Federal Election Commission or Internal Revenue Service Form 8872 within 10 calendar days of such filing."

SECTION 5.(c)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to contributions made or received on or after that date.

SECTION 6.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 12^th day of June, 2024.

                                                                    s/  Phil Berger

                                                                         President Pro Tempore of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                         VETO   Roy Cooper

                                                                         Governor

Became law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor at 1:53 p.m. this 27^th day of June, 2024.

                                                                    s/  Ms. Sarah Holland

                                                                         Senate Principal Clerk