AN ACT to repeal the criminal offense of crime against nature and establish a separate offense of bestiality.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 14‑177 is repealed.

SECTION 2.  G.S. 7B‑101(1)d. reads as rewritten:

d.       Commits, permits, or encourages the commission of a violation of the following laws by, with, or upon the juvenile: first‑degree forcible rape, as provided in G.S. 14‑27.21; second‑degree forcible rape as provided in G.S. 14‑27.22; statutory rape of a child by an adult as provided in G.S. 14‑27.23; first‑degree statutory rape as provided in G.S. 14‑27.24; first‑degree forcible sex offense as provided in G.S. 14‑27.26; second‑degree forcible sex offense as provided in G.S. 14‑27.27; statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult as provided in G.S. 14‑27.28; first‑degree statutory sexual offense as provided in G.S. 14‑27.29; sexual activity by a substitute parent or custodian as provided in G.S. 14‑27.31; sexual activity with a student as provided in G.S. 14‑27.32; unlawful sale, surrender, or purchase of a minor, as provided in G.S. 14‑43.14; crime against nature, as provided in G.S. 14‑177; bestiality, as provided in G.S. 14‑363.4; incest, as provided in G.S. 14‑178; preparation of obscene photographs, slides, or motion pictures of the juvenile, as provided in G.S. 14‑190.5; employing or permitting the juvenile to assist in a violation of the obscenity laws as provided in G.S. 14‑190.6; dissemination of obscene material to the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14‑190.7 and G.S. 14‑190.8; displaying or disseminating material harmful to the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14‑190.14 and G.S. 14‑190.15; first and second degree sexual exploitation of the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14‑190.16 and G.S. 14‑190.17; promoting the prostitution of the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14‑205.3(b); and taking indecent liberties with the juvenile, as provided in G.S. 14‑202.1;

SECTION 3.  G.S. 75D‑3(c)(1)b. reads as rewritten:

b.        Chapter 14 of the General Statutes of North Carolina except Articles 9, 22A, 38, 40, 43, 46, 47, 59 thereof; and further excepting G.S. Sections 14‑78.1, 14‑82, 14‑86, 14‑145, 14‑146, 14‑147, 14‑177, 14‑178, 14‑179, 14‑183, 14‑184, 14‑186, 14‑190.9, 14‑195, 14‑197, 14‑201, 14‑202, 14‑247, 14‑248, 14‑313 thereof.

SECTION 4.  G.S. 115C‑270.35(b) reads as rewritten:

(b)      Automatic Revocation With No Hearing. – The State Board shall automatically revoke the license of a professional educator without the right to a hearing upon receiving verification of the identity of the professional educator together with a certified copy of a criminal record showing that the professional educator has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to or has been finally convicted of any of the following crimes:

…

(7)        Crime against nature, G.S. 14‑177.

(7a)      Bestiality, G.S. 14‑363.4.

…

The State Board shall mail notice of its intent to act pursuant to this subsection by certified mail, return receipt requested, directed to the professional educator's last known address. The notice shall inform the professional educator that it will revoke the person's license unless the professional educator notifies the State Board in writing within 10 days after receipt of the notice that the defendant identified in the criminal record is not the same person as the professional educator. If the professional educator provides this written notice to the State Board, the State Board shall not revoke the license unless it can establish as a fact that the defendant and the professional educator are the same person.

SECTION 5.  Article 47 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 14‑363.4.  Bestiality.

(a)        Offense. – A person commits the offense of bestiality when the person performs or submits to any sexual act with an animal involving the sex organs of the one and the mouth, anus, penis, or vagina of the other.

(b)        Punishment. – A violation of this section is a Class I felony.

SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.