House approves tougher penalties for strangulation and related domestic-violence changes

The House passed the committee substitute to House Bill 308 on its third reading, adopting changes that revise criminal penalties for strangulation and make related adjustments to domestic-violence law.

The measure, introduced by Representative Stevens, would amend state criminal statutes to clarify the elements of the offense of strangulation, raise penalties in certain cases and create a felony offense for habitual domestic violence. Stevens told colleagues the bill was requested by the conference of district attorneys and that it also clarifies sentencing procedures and expunction rules.

Supporters said the changes target intentional conduct intended to conceal error, abuse or neglect that causes serious injury or death. Representative Stevens described the bill as setting out elements that must be met — for example, that a person knowingly and willfully destroy, alter or omit information from a medical or related record to conceal serious injury or death — and said the bill aligns North Carolina with similar laws that address falsification in other records. Debate in the House emphasized the seriousness of strangulation as an injury mechanism and the need for stiffer penalties when the elements in the bill are met.

The bill also includes provisions requiring the court to specify whether sentences for multiple offenses are concurrent or consecutive and clarifies certain expunction provisions. Sponsors described the new felony and related changes as intended to give prosecutors clearer tools on cases involving repeated or severe domestic violence.

The House recorded a 110–2 tally on the bill’s reported vote during the second-reading roll call; the committee substitute subsequently passed on third reading and was ordered sent to the Senate.