Part I. Adoption Law Changes
Amends GS 7B-100 by requiring juveniles to be placed in a safe, permanent home within two years (was, a reasonable amount of time) when it is not in the juvenile’s best interest to return home after being removed. Effective October 1, 2025.
Amends GS 7B-1111(a)(7) allowing the court to terminate the parental rights if they find that a parent has willfully abandoned the juvenile for at least six cumulative (was, consecutive) months immediately before the petition or motion was filed. Effective October 1, 2025, and applying to petitions on or after that date.
Amends GS 48-1-110 providing a new requirement that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provide the listed information on its website pertaining to adoption, services to assist women during and after pregnancy and childbirth, and abortion alternatives and related services. Effective October 1, 2025.
Amends GS 48-2-206, concerning the prebirth determination of the right to consent, to allow a filing by the biological mother, agency, or adoptive parents chosen by the biological mother for a special proceeding to request that the court determine if consent of the biological father is required at any time after conception as reasonably determined by a physician (was, at any time after about three months from the date of conception as reasonably determined by a physician). Effective October 1, 2025.
Amends GS 48-2-607(c), concerning appeals of a final decree of adoption, allowing a parent or guardian whose consent was necessary under GS Chapter 48 but not obtained to move to have the decree set aside within six months (was, within six months of the time the omission is or ought reasonably to have been discovered). Effective October 1, 2025.
Amends GS 115C-81.30 by adding a requirement to the list of criteria the reproductive health and safety instruction provided by local school administrative units must achieve. The instruction must provide information about adoption, its benefits, and where more information can be found. Effective at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.
Part II. Abortion Law Revisions
Amends GS 90-21.81A making it unlawful to procure or cause a miscarriage or abortion in the state after the sixth week (was, the twelfth week) of a woman’s pregnancy.
Amends GS 90-21.81B by changing one of the listed circumstances where it is lawful to procure or cause a miscarriage or an abortion in the state to allow the procedure during the first six weeks (was, 12 weeks) of a woman’s pregnancy, when the procedure is performed by a qualified physician licensed to practice medicine in a hospital, ambulatory surgical center, or clinic certified by DHHS to be a suitable facility for the performance of abortions, in accordance with GS 90-21.82A or during the first six weeks (was, 12 weeks) of a woman’s pregnancy when a medical abortion is procured.
Amends GS 90-21.81C by requiring a qualified physician who advises, procures, or causes a miscarriage or abortion after the sixth week (was, twelfth week) of a woman’s pregnancy to record the listed procedure information and record of findings and analysis the physician based the determination that there was a medical emergency, life-limiting anomaly, rape, or incest and provide all of this to DHHS pursuant to subsection (c).
Amends GS 90-21.82A allowing a physician to perform a surgical abortion in a listed facility during the first six (was, 12) weeks of pregnancy and prohibiting physicians from performing a surgical abortion or dispensing abortion-inducing drugs as permitted under state law in any facility other than a hospital after the sixth (was, twelfth) week of pregnancy.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 7B-100, 7B-1111, 115C-81.30, 90-21.81A, 90-21.81B, 90-21.81C, 90-21.82A
Edition 1: 7B-100, 7B-1111, 115C-81.30, 90-21.81A, 90-21.81B, 90-21.81C, 90-21.82A