Rep. Smith files bill in North Carolina House to protect domestic violence victims

A new bill filed by State Rep. Carson Smith in the North Carolina House seeks to enhance protections for domestic violence victims by updating legal procedures and testimony rules, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 505 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Kayla’s Act: Protecting Dom. Violence Victims.’

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

In essence, the bill, known as Kayla’s Act, aims to protect domestic violence victims by modifying existing laws. It introduces changes to hearsay exceptions, allowing certain statements to be admitted if a declarant is unavailable as a witness due to wrongful actions by a party. The bill extends the timeline for charging specific misdemeanors related to domestic violence to within 10 years of committing the crime. It also permits domestic violence victim witnesses to testify remotely under specific conditions, such as the absence of objection by the defendant or a court decision based on emotional distress considerations. The bill details procedures for notifying defendants about remote testimony, circumstances under which objections can be waived, and judicial requirements to authorize remote testimony over objections. These changes are effective upon becoming law and apply to trials and testimony from that date onward.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Charles W. Miller proposed the most bills (28) 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.

Smith, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 16th House district, replacing previous state representative Bob Muller.