Rep. Smith files bill in North Carolina House to protect firearms licensees

A new bill filed by State Rep. Carson Smith in the North Carolina House seeks to shield firearms licensees from liability related to voluntary firearm safety hold agreements, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 901 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Recognize Safety Hold Agreements.’

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

In essence, this bill provides liability protection for federal firearms licensees who enter into safety hold agreements with individual firearm owners. A safety hold agreement is a voluntary arrangement where a firearms licensee takes possession of a lawful firearm at the owner’s request, holds it for a set period, and returns it afterward. The bill stipulates that no fees can be charged for holding the firearm and grants immunity from liability for incidents arising from the agreement, excluding negligence or unlawful conduct. The State Bureau of Investigation will create a modifiable form for these agreements, which are to remain confidential unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties involved. The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Robert T. Reives, II 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.

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.