Rep. Greenfield files bill in North Carolina House to protect mandatory reporters

A new bill filed by State Rep. Julia Greenfield in the North Carolina House seeks to shield mandatory reporters from retaliation and ensure employer compliance with reporting obligations, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 826 on April 8 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘No Retaliation Against Mandatory Reporters.’

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

In essence, the bill amends Chapter 95 of the North Carolina General Statutes by introducing protections for mandatory reporters to shield them from retaliatory employment actions. It defines mandatory reporters and specifies their reporting obligations under various statutes, such as abuse or fraud reporting. Employers are prohibited from taking adverse employment actions if an employee engages in protected activities, like making a good-faith report of suspected abuse. Employers must inform employees about their rights and provide training on mandatory reporting within 60 days of hiring and annually thereafter. The bill outlines enforcement measures, including filing complaints with the North Carolina Commissioner of Labor and the potential for civil suits, with specific burdens of proof and rebuttable presumptions. It also establishes a mechanism for assessing employer penalties and clarifies that the law supplements existing contractual and legal rights. This act is effective July 1, 2025, applicable to acts or omissions from that date.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Donny Lambeth proposed the most bills (55) 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.

Greenfield graduated from Appalachian State University in 1982 with a BA.

Greenfield, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 100th House district, replacing previous state representative John Autry.