Rep. Von Haefen files bill in North Carolina House to expand civil rights and address hate crimes

A new bill filed by State Rep. Julie von Haefen seeks to promote a more inclusive and nondiscriminatory environment across North Carolina through various measures, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 645 on April 1 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Friendly NC Act.’

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

In essence, this bill, titled the “Friendly NC Act,” seeks to foster a more inclusive and nondiscriminatory environment in North Carolina through various measures. It enacts the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, elevating certain misdemeanors to felonies if motivated by bias against a victim’s personal characteristics. It mandates the collection and reporting of hate crime statistics by law enforcement and increases funding for the State Bureau of Investigation to manage a hate crimes database. The bill aims to expand civil rights by defining discrimination broadly, prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, credit, insurance, and education. It also codifies protections against discrimination for those using assisted reproductive technology and ensures nondiscriminatory access to domestic violence protective orders and drivers’ licensing in applicants’ native languages. Additionally, it establishes a comprehensive State policy for environmental justice, creating an Environmental Justice Advisory Council to promote equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. The bill’s varied sections have distinct effective dates, with many provisions becoming law upon passage.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Robert T. Reives, II proposed the most bills (26) 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.

Haefen graduated from Ohio University in 1992 with a BA and again in 1995 from Case Western Reserve University with a JD.

Haefen, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 36th House district, replacing previous state representative Nelson Dollar.