Rep. Butler files bill in North Carolina House to protect reproductive rights

A new bill filed by State Rep. Deb Butler in the North Carolina House seeks to protect reproductive freedom by codifying established abortion rights and ensuring access to safe services, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 509 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Right to Reproductive Freedom Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, known as the Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, seeks to codify the core principles of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey into North Carolina law, emphasizing the removal of barriers to access safe and legal abortion services. The bill prohibits the state from imposing undue burdens on pre-viability abortion decisions, allowing restrictions post-viability only when necessary to protect the life or health of the individual. It amends existing statutes to expand consent capabilities for minors under specific medical conditions and repeals several prior statutory provisions limiting abortion access. Additionally, the bill modifies insurance coverage guidelines so that neither county nor city-provided health plans offer abortion coverage beyond state employee plans. This bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, with some sections implementing 30 days post-enactment concerning contractual agreements.

A related bill, SB 467, was also filed in the North Carolina Senate, introduced by Sen. Natalie S. Murdock (and two others) on March 24, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Butler proposed the most bills (15) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Butler graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1983 with a BA and again in 1986 from Wake Forest University School of Law with a JD.

Butler, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 18th House district, replacing previous state representative Susi Hamilton.