North Carolina HB 83: Adults Working and Advocating for Kids' Empowerment, Inc., in Swain County/Funds.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025

SESSION LAW 2026-34
HOUSE BILL 83

*H83-v-6*
AN ACT TO AMEND THE OFFENSE OF DISSEMINATING OBSCENITY TO MINORS;
TO ADD THE OFFENSES OF DISSEMINATING OBSCENITY TO MINORS,
DISSEMINATING HARMFUL MATERIAL TO MINORS, AND EXHIBITING
HARMFUL PERFORMANCES TO MINORS TO THE LIST OF CRIMINAL
CONVICTIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SEX
OFFENDER AND PUBLIC PROTECTION REGISTRATION PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE
THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON A
SYSTEM FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO MAKE
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

DISSEMINATION TO MINORS OF OBSCENITY AND MATERIAL HARMFUL TO
MINORS
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 14-190.7 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14-190.7. Dissemination to minors under the age of 16 years.minors.
(a) Offense and Punishment. – Every person 18 years of age or older who is guilty of a
Class H felony if the person knowingly disseminates to any minor under the age of 16 years any
material which he the person knows or reasonably should know to be obscene within the meaning
of G.S. 14-190.1 shall be guilty of a Class H felony.and the person is at least four years older
than the minor.
(b) Registration. – When a person is convicted of a violation of this section, the
sentencing court shall consider whether the person is a danger to the community and whether
requiring the person to register as a sex offender pursuant to Article 27A of this Chapter would
further the purposes of that Article as stated in G.S. 14-208.5. If the sentencing court rules that
the person is a danger to the community and that the person shall register, then an order shall be
entered requiring the person to register."
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 14-190.8 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14-190.8. Dissemination to minors under the age of 13 years.
(a) Offense and Punishment. – Every person 18 years of age or older who knowingly
disseminates to any minor under the age of 13 years any material which he the person knows or
reasonably should know to be obscene within the meaning of G.S. 14-190.1 shall be punished as
is guilty of a Class G felon.felony.
(b) Registration. – When a person is convicted of a violation of this section, the
sentencing court shall consider whether the person is a danger to the community and whether
requiring the person to register as a sex offender pursuant to Article 27A of this Chapter would
further the purposes of that Article as stated in G.S. 14-208.5. If the sentencing court rules that
the person is a danger to the community and that the person shall register, then an order shall be
entered requiring the person to register."
SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 14-190.15 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14-190.15. Disseminating harmful material to minors; exhibiting harmful performances
to minors.

Page 2 Session Law 2026-34 House Bill 83
(a) Disseminating Harmful Material. – A person commits the offense of disseminating
harmful material to minors if, with or without consideration and knowing the character or content
of the material, he:the person does either of the following:
(1) Sells, furnishes, presents, or distributes to a minor material that is harmful to
minors; orminors.
(2) Allows a minor to review or peruse material that is harmful to minors.
(b) Exhibiting Harmful Performance. – A person commits the offense of exhibiting a
harmful performance to a minor if, with or without consideration and knowing the character or
content of the performance, he the person allows a minor to view a live performance that is
harmful to minors.
...
(e) Registration. – When a person is convicted of a violation of this section, the
sentencing court shall consider whether the person is a danger to the community and whether
requiring the person to register as a sex offender pursuant to Article 27A of this Chapter would
further the purposes of that Article as stated in G.S. 14-208.5. If the sentencing court rules that
the person is a danger to the community and that the person shall register, then an order shall be
entered requiring the person to register."
SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 14-208.6(4) is amended by adding a new sub-subdivision to
read:
"g. A final conviction for a violation of G.S. 14-190.7, 14-190.8, or
14-190.15, only if the court sentencing the individual issues an order
pursuant to the applicable provision of G.S. 14-190.7, 14-190.8, or
14-190.15, requiring the individual to register."
SECTION 1.(e) Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this
section are not abated or affected by this section, and the statutes that would be applicable but
for this section remain applicable to those prosecutions.
SECTION 1.(f) This section becomes effective December 1, 2026, and applies to
offenses committed on or after that date.

STUDY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORTING
SECTION 2.(a) The General Assembly finds all of the following:
(1) Human trafficking is a pervasive crime that often goes undetected. National
statistics indicate that hundreds o