AN ACT to establish a human trafficking records commission within the department of justice to review and release records related to the epstein investigation, to make conforming changes to legislative privilege and confidentiality, to authorize the state bureau of investigation to assist the human trafficking records commission, to allow issuance of extreme risk protection orders, and to provide funding to the department of justice.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part i. create human trafficking records commission to review and release records

SECTION 1.  Chapter 114 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:

Article 11.

Human Trafficking Records Commission.

§ 114‑80.  Commission established; duties.

(a)        There is established within the Department of Justice the Human Trafficking Records Commission (Commission). The Commission shall review and release records related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein that are held by State authorities. The Commission shall redact all personally identifiable information of victims referenced in the records.

(b)        To the extent a member or officer of the General Assembly is identified in the records described in subsection (a) of this section, the common law of legislative privilege and the common law of legislative immunity do not apply in matters related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.

part ii. make conforming changes to legislative privilege and confidentiality

SECTION 2.1.  G.S. 120‑137 reads as rewritten:

§ 120‑137.  Legislative privilege.

Nothing in this Chapter nor in Chapter 132 of the General Statutes shall be construed as a waiver of the common law of legislative privilege or legislative immunity by a legislator or former legislator. A legislator or former legislator may assert the common law of legislative privilege or the common law of legislative immunity in all instances.instances, subject to G.S. 114‑80.

SECTION 2.2.  G.S. 132‑1.4 reads as rewritten:

§ 132‑1.4.  Criminal investigations; intelligence information records; Innocence Inquiry Commission records.

(a)        Records of criminal investigations conducted by public law enforcement agencies, records of criminal intelligence information compiled by public law enforcement agencies, and records of investigations conducted by the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission, are not public records as defined by G.S. 132‑1. Records of criminal investigations conducted by public law enforcement agencies or records of criminal intelligence information may be released by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

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(c)        Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, and unless otherwise prohibited by law, the following information shall be public records within the meaning of G.S. 132‑1:

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(7)        The contents of records released by the Human Trafficking Records Commission as described in G.S. 114‑80.

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part iii. authorize state bureau of investigation to assist human trafficking records commission

SECTION 3.  G.S. 143B‑1208.5 reads as rewritten:

§ 143B‑1208.5.  Investigations of lynchings, election frauds, etc.; services subject to call of Governor; Governor or Attorney General; witness fees and mileage for employees.

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(f1)      The State Bureau of Investigation is further authorized, upon request by the Attorney General, to assist the Human Trafficking Records Commission with investigations related to individuals identified in the records described in G.S. 114‑80.

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part iv. allow issuance of extreme risk protection orders

SECTION 4.1.  Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:

Article 54C.

Extreme Risk Protection Orders.

§ 14‑415.28.  Definitions; purpose.

(a)        Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:

(1)        Commission. – The North Carolina Human Trafficking Records Commission.

(2)        Extreme Risk Protection Order or ERPO. – An order granted under this Article.

(3)        Firearm. – As defined in G.S. 14‑409.39(2).

(4)        Records. – Documents related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein as described in G.S. 114‑80.

(b)        Purpose. – The purpose of this section is to restrict access to and remove firearms from certain individuals identified in the records released by the Commission.

§ 14‑415.29.  Issuance of ERPOs related to records released by the Commission.

(a)        Authorization. – District court judges in this State are authorized to issue ERPOs for certain individuals identified in the records released by the Commission.

(b)        Contextual Findings Required. – A district court judge shall review the context within which an individual was identified in the released records before issuing any ERPO under this section.

(c)        Hearing Required. – Upon issuance of an ERPO to an individual pursuant to this Article, the issuing court shall require the individual to appear before the court. The court, at the hearing, shall inform the individual of the impact of the ERPO on the individual's right to access firearms. The court shall require the individual to identify the presence of, ownership of, or other access to firearms by the individual, as well as permits to purchase firearms or carry concealed firearms.

(d)       Required Surrender of Firearms. – After the hearing described in subsection (c) of this section, the court shall order the individual to immediately surrender to the sheriff all firearms and permits to purchase firearms or carry concealed firearms that are in the care, custody, possession, ownership, or control of the individual. The sheriff shall store the firearms or contract with a licensed firearms dealer to provide storage.

SECTION 4.2.  G.S. 14‑269.8 reads as rewritten:

§ 14‑269.8.  Purchase or possession of firearms by person subject to domestic violence order or Extreme Risk Protection Order prohibited.

(a)        In accordance with G.S. 50B‑3.1, G.S. 50B‑3.1 and G.S. 14‑415.29, it is unlawful for any person to possess, purchase, or receive or attempt to possess, purchase, or receive a firearm, as defined in G.S. 14‑409.39(2), machine gun, ammunition, or permits to purchase or carry concealed firearms if ordered by the court for so long as that protective order or any successive protective order entered against that person pursuant to Chapter 50B or Article 54C of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is in effect.

(b)        Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class H felony.

part v. provide funding to department of justice

SECTION 5.1.  There is appropriated from the Opportunity Scholarship Program to the Department of Justice the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be used to establish and operate the Human Trafficking Records Commission established by this act.

SECTION 5.2.  There is appropriated from the Opportunity Scholarship Program to the Department of Public Safety the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be used to support investigative activities conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation under the requirements of this act.

part vi. Effective date

SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.