# North Carolina SB 696: AN ACT REQUIRING A JUDICIAL FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE TO EXECUTE A NO-KNOCK SEARCH WARRANT AND CLARIFYING THAT AN OFFICER SERVING A SEARCH WARRANT MUST WAIT LONG ENOUGH AFTER NOTICE FOR EITHER AN OCCUPANT TO RESPOND OR THE OFFICER TO DETERMINE THAT FORCED ENTRY IS NECESSARY.

North Carolina SB 696, AN ACT REQUIRING A JUDICIAL FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE TO EXECUTE A NO-KNOCK SEARCH WARRANT AND CLARIFYING THAT AN OFFICER SERVING A SEARCH WARRANT MUST WAIT LONG ENOUGH AFTER NOTICE FOR EITHER AN OCCUPANT TO RESPOND OR THE OFFICER TO DETERMINE THAT FORCED ENTRY IS NECESSARY., is a 2025-2026 Session Senate bill sponsored by Kandie D. Smith (Democratic), Caleb Theodros (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-03-26 (Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB696-2025
- 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 SB 696
- State: North Carolina
- Session: 2025-2026 Session
- Title: AN ACT REQUIRING A JUDICIAL FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE TO EXECUTE A NO-KNOCK SEARCH WARRANT AND CLARIFYING THAT AN OFFICER SERVING A SEARCH WARRANT MUST WAIT LONG ENOUGH AFTER NOTICE FOR EITHER AN OCCUPANT TO RESPOND OR THE OFFICER TO DETERMINE THAT FORCED ENTRY IS NECESSARY.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-03-25
- Last action: 2025-03-26, Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
- Sponsors: Kandie D. Smith (Democratic), Caleb Theodros (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: COURTS, CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC, WARRANTS
- 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: Kandie D. Smith (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Caleb Theodros (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Val Applewhite (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sophia Chitlik (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joyce Waddell (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (3)

- 2025-03-26: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-03-26: Passed 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-25: Filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Filed: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S696v0.pdf)
- Latest Edition: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S696v1.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)
- SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026. (signed)
- HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II. (signed)
- SB 403: AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPEDIENT IMPLEMENTATION OF MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS. (passed house)

## Sources
- [Filed (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S696v0.pdf)
- [Latest Edition (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S696v1.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)
- [SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB445-2025)
- [HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB268-2025)
- [SB 403: AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPEDIENT IMPLEMENTATION OF MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENT…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB403-2025)
- [North Carolina bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina/bills)
- [North Carolina state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB696-2025 (as of 2026-11-01).