# North Carolina HB 985: AN ACT TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR ASSAULTING A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE OR SCHOOL VOLUNTEER.

North Carolina HB 985, AN ACT TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR ASSAULTING A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE OR SCHOOL VOLUNTEER., is a 2025-2026 Session House bill sponsored by John R. Bell, IV (Republican), Brian Biggs (Republican), Tricia Ann Cotham (Republican); status in committee, last action 2025-04-17 (Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 3, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB985-2025
- 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 985
- State: North Carolina
- Session: 2025-2026 Session
- Title: AN ACT TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR ASSAULTING A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE OR SCHOOL VOLUNTEER.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-04-10
- Last action: 2025-04-17, Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 3, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Sponsors: John R. Bell, IV (Republican), Brian Biggs (Republican), Tricia Ann Cotham (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 15
- Subjects: ASSAULT, COURTS, CRIMES, CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, EDUCATION, NOTIFICATION, OCCUPATIONS, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC, SENTENCING, STATE EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, SCHOOL STAFF
- 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: John R. Bell, IV (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Brian Biggs (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Tricia Ann Cotham (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer Balkcom (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John M. Blust (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jerry "Alan" Branson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jimmy Dixon (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Frances Jackson, PhD (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Garland E. Pierce (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Keith Kidwell (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Ray Pickett (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Joseph Pike (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dante Pittman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bill Ward (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Diane Wheatley (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Donna McDowell White (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Matthew Winslow (Republican), House

## Actions (5)

- 2025-04-17: Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 3, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House)
- 2025-04-17: Withdrawn From Com (House)
- 2025-04-14: Ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Judiciary 3, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House)
- 2025-04-14: Passed 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-04-10: Filed (House)

## Bill text

- Filed: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H985v0.pdf)
- Latest Edition: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H985v1.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 958: AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION LAWS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS. (vetoed)
- HB 377: 2026 Court Changes. (vetoed)
- HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II. (signed)
- SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026. (signed)
- HB 832: Education Omnibus. (passed senate)

## Sources
- [Filed (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H985v0.pdf)
- [Latest Edition (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H985v1.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 958: AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION LAWS AND CAMPAIGN FIN…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB958-2025)
- [HB 377: 2026 Court Changes.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB377-2025)
- [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 832: Education Omnibus.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB832-2025)
- [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-HB985-2025 (as of 2026-11-01).