Adds new GS 14-34.7A, making assault or battery on a public safety officer, law enforcement agency animal, or search and rescue animal by throwing, spraying, or otherwise projecting water or other substances a Class I felony offense, as follows. Directs that a person is liable under the statute when, unless covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, the person commits an assault or battery on either of the following by throwing, spraying, or otherwise projecting, or causing to be thrown, sprayed, or otherwise projected, water or any other substance at:

A public safety officer (i) while the public safety officer is discharging or attempting to discharge his or her official duties or (ii) because of the victim's status as a public safety officer.
A law enforcement agency animal or a search and rescue animal (i) while the animal is in the performance of its duty or (ii) because of the animal's status as a law enforcement agency animal or search and rescue animal.

Defines public safety officer to include any of ten listed officers, including a law enforcement officer, school employees or volunteers as defined in GS 143B-805, members of the NC National Guard or US military, firefighters, rescue squad workers, or emergency medical services personnel. Also defines law enforcement agency animal and search and rescue animal.
Incorporates new definition of public safety officer into GS 14-34.8 (criminal uses of laser device), GS 14-32 (felonious assault with deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury), GS 14-34.5 (assault with a firearm on a public safety officer), GS 14-34.7 (assault or affray on a public safety officer), and GS 14-69.3 (arson resulting in serious injury to a public safety officer). Makes conforming changes. 
Expands the grounds for culpability under: (1) GS 14-34.8 (criminal use of a laser device) and (2) GS 14-34.5 (assault with a firearm on public safety officer) to include instances where the conduct is engaged in because of a person’s status as a public safety officer or an animal’s status as a law enforcement agency animal or search and rescue animal (GS 14-34.8 only).
Clarifies that a person can only be punished under GS 14-32 (assault of a public safety officer) if no other provision of law applies providing a greater punishment.  
Expands the grounds for culpability under GS 14-34.7 (assault or affray on a public safety officer) to include instances where the conduct is engaged in because of a person’s status as a public safety officer. Expands the illegal conduct covered by the statute to include affray.
Expands the grounds for culpability under GS 14-69.3 (arson resulting in serious injury to a public safety officer or fire investigator) to include instances where the conduct is engaged in because of a person’s status as a public safety officer or fire investigator. Clarifies that a person can only be punished under the statute if no other provision of law applies providing a greater punishment. Makes conforming changes.
Expands the grounds for culpability under: (1) GS 14-33(c)(4) (assault on State officers or employees [including officers and employees of political subdivisions of the State]) and (2) GS 14-34.2 (assaults with a firearm/other deadly weapon upon governmental officers or employees or a company or campus police officer) to include assaults that occur because of the victim’s status as described in the statute. 
Repeals GS 14-34.6 (assault or affray on a firefighter, an emergency medical technician, medical responder, and medical practice and hospital personnel). Makes conforming changes to GS 15A-266.3A(f)(4)(concerning DNA samples and required DNA analyses upon arrest for certain offenses) and GS 131E-88.3(a) (concerning AOC’s annual reporting to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation).
Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 14-34.8, 14-32, 14-33, 14-34.2, 14-34.5, 14-34.6, 14-34.7, 14-69.3, 15A-266.3A, 131E-88.3
Edition 1: 14-34.8, 14-32, 14-33, 14-34.2, 14-34.5, 14-34.6, 14-34.7, 14-69.3, 15A-266.3A, 131E-88.3