Rep. Miller files bill in North Carolina House to define hospital police roles

A new bill filed by State Rep. Miller seeks to define hospital police officers’ roles and grant them access to law enforcement systems and emergency communication networks, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 851 on April 9 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Hospital Police Officer/Authority/Info Access.’

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

In essence, this bill establishes hospital police officers as a distinct category of company police officers within North Carolina and grants them specific authorities and access rights. Hospital police are authorized to operate on hospital property and adjacent public roads and may engage in mutual aid agreements similar to municipal police. The bill also allows certified hospital police agencies access to the Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Automated Data System (CJLEADS) and the Division of Criminal Information Network (DCIN) under certain conditions. Additionally, hospital police are included in the entities eligible for tuition and registration fee waivers for specified courses. The bill ensures hospital police agencies can use the Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders (VIPER) system, provided they acquire the necessary equipment. The act becomes effective upon becoming law.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Miller proposed the most bills (37) 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.

Miller graduated from Cape Fear Community College.

Miller, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 19th House district, replacing previous state representative Ted Davis Jr..