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The North Carolina Senate passed a landmark pro-family bill Tuesday in a decisive 27-4 vote, advancing measures to safeguard women, children, parental rights, and victims of gender ideology.
State Sen. Buck Newton, a Republican who led efforts to strengthen the legislation, emphasized the need to recognize biological realities and push back against gender ideology.
“We cannot ignore the biological realities,” Newton told colleagues during floor debate on June 24.
In language echoing one of President Donald Trump’s early executive orders, House Bill 805 formally recognizes only male and female as the two sexes under state law, underscoring the bill’s rejection of progressive efforts to blur those distinctions.
Under HB 805, state funds may not be used for “gender-transition” surgeries for incarcerated individuals. The bill also grants victims of harmful “gender-transition” procedures an extended statute of limitations to pursue legal action against medical providers.
Another key provision affirms parental authority in education, allowing parents to exempt their children from classroom instruction that conflicts with their religious beliefs.
The bill also responds to growing concerns over children’s access to explicit content online, requiring stricter age verification measures to protect minors.
Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the NC Values Coalition, hailed HB 805 as a sweeping victory for families.
“From protecting women and children from sexual exploitation, to defining male and female by biology in NC law, to protecting girls in private spaces in K-12 schools, to helping victims of harmful gender transition procedures receive justice in court, and allowing parents to have a greater say in their child’s education,” Fitzgerald said, “the provisions in this bill help make NC a state where families can thrive.”
The bill now advances to the House for concurrence before heading to the governor’s desk.
