# North Carolina HB 497: AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A DEFENSE TO HOMICIDE OR ASSAULT BASED ON THE DISCOVERY OF, PERCEPTION OF, OR BELIEF ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON'S SEX, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

North Carolina HB 497, AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A DEFENSE TO HOMICIDE OR ASSAULT BASED ON THE DISCOVERY OF, PERCEPTION OF, OR BELIEF ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON'S SEX, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION., is a 2025-2026 Session House bill sponsored by Vernetta Alston (Democratic), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-03-26 (Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB497-2025
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: North Carolina HB 497
- State: North Carolina
- Session: 2025-2026 Session
- Title: AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A DEFENSE TO HOMICIDE OR ASSAULT BASED ON THE DISCOVERY OF, PERCEPTION OF, OR BELIEF ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON'S SEX, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-03-24
- Last action: 2025-03-26, Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Sponsors: Vernetta Alston (Democratic), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 18
- Subjects: ASSAULT, COURTS, CRIMES, CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, DEATH & DYING, LGBTQ & GENDER ISSUES, PUBLIC, HOMICIDE
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Vernetta Alston (Democratic), House
- Sponsor: Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cynthia Ball (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mary Belk (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cecil Brockman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Deb Butler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Becky Carney (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Aisha O. Dew (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Julia Greenfield (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Pricey Harrison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Zack Hawkins (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kanika Brown (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tim Longest (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Marcia Morey (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lindsey Prather (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Renée A. Price (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: James Roberson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Phil Rubin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Julie von Haefen (Democratic), House

## Actions (3)

- 2025-03-26: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House)
- 2025-03-26: Passed 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-03-24: Filed (House)

## Bill text

- Filed: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H497v0.pdf)
- Latest Edition: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H497v1.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 96: AN ACT TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE REMEDY FOR THE EXPEDITED REMOVAL OF UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. (vetoed)
- HB 377: 2026 Court Changes. (vetoed)
- HB 958: AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION LAWS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS. (vetoed)
- HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II. (signed)
- SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026. (signed)
- HB 199: Authorize Municipal Deannexation. (passed house)

## Sources
- [Filed (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H497v0.pdf)
- [Latest Edition (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H497v1.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 96: AN ACT TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE REMEDY FOR THE EXPEDITED REMOVAL OF UNAUTHORIZE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB96-2025)
- [HB 377: 2026 Court Changes.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB377-2025)
- [HB 958: AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION LAWS AND CAMPAIGN FIN…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB958-2025)
- [HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB268-2025)
- [SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB445-2025)
- [HB 199: Authorize Municipal Deannexation.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB199-2025)
- [North Carolina bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina/bills)
- [North Carolina state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB497-2025 (as of 2026-11-01).