The new bill filed by State Rep. Hugh Blackwell aims to review and improve North Carolina’s involuntary commitment process through interagency study and recommendations, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 1104 on April 29 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘IVC and Public Safety Committee.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill directs the state Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Information Technology and the Administrative Office of the Courts to jointly study North Carolina’s involuntary commitment process and recommend systemic improvements. The agencies must evaluate legal and operational frameworks, focus on getting timely clinical data to judicial officers, and propose ways to improve legal and clinical outcomes. Required topics include training for judges and magistrates on community-based services, developing clinical workflows and bench cards, updating electronic forms to standardize data, and exploring increased data sharing with the E-Courts system, including a possible public dashboard. The bill takes effect when it becomes law.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Tricia Ann Cotham proposed the most bills (54) 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.
Blackwell graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an AB and again from Harvard Law School with a JD.
Blackwell, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2009 to represent the state’s 86th House district, replacing previous state representative Walt Church.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Blackwell, Charles W. Miller, Timothy Reeder, MD, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 1104 | 04/29/2026 | IVC and Public Safety Committee. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Brian Biggs, David Willis, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 1143 | 04/29/2026 | Principal Fellows & MSA Intern Stipends. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Allen Chesser, Donnie Loftis, and Erin Paré | HB 1020 | 04/21/2026 | PESA Class Aides & Child. Wartime Vets Funds. |
| Hugh Blackwell, David Willis, and John A. Torbett | HB 918 | 04/10/2025 | Standardized Testing Choice Act. |
| Hugh Blackwell and Sarah Stevens | HB 958 | 04/10/2025 | Election Law Changes. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Brian Biggs, and Kyle Hall | HB 959 | 04/10/2025 | Protecting Students in a Digital Age. |
| Hugh Blackwell, David Willis, John A. Torbett, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 971 | 04/10/2025 | Career Development Adjustment. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Dudley Greene, Jay Adams, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 850 | 04/09/2025 | Interbasin Transfer Moratorium/Study. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Diane Wheatley, Erin Paré, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 854 | 04/09/2025 | Require Licensure of Educational Interpreters. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Brandon Lofton, Brian Biggs, and Paul Scott | HB 855 | 04/09/2025 | Residency Licenses for Nonpublic EC Teachers. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Brian Echevarria, Jake Johnson, and John A. Torbett | HB 872 | 04/09/2025 | School Employee Protections for Use of Force. |
| Hugh Blackwell, David Willis, Jake Johnson, and Wyatt Gable | HB 878 | 04/09/2025 | Increased Academic Transparency. |
| Hugh Blackwell, John M. Blust, Julia C. Howard, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 891 | 04/09/2025 | Civil Actions/State Agency and AG Litigation. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Carla D. Cunningham, Diane Wheatley, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 832 | 04/08/2025 | Revise School Safety Grant Program. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Brian Biggs, Heather H. Rhyne, and Larry W. Potts | HB 803 | 04/07/2025 | 3-Year FDA Approval for New Childhood Vaxx. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Jake Johnson, Matthew Winslow, and Zack Hawkins | HB 819 | 04/07/2025 | DIT Agency Bill. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Carla D. Cunningham, Donny Lambeth, and Gloristine Brown | HB 772 | 04/03/2025 | North Carolina Student Lifeline Act. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Charles Smith, Diane Wheatley, and Mike Colvin | HB 701 | 04/02/2025 | Adopt Lafayette Day. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Diane Wheatley, Timothy Reeder, MD, and Wyatt Gable | HB 727 | 04/02/2025 | Marriage/Family Therapy Mods. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Diane Wheatley, Frank Iler, and Phil Shepard | HB 741 | 04/02/2025 | Veterans Registration Plate Modifications. |
| Hugh Blackwell and John A. Torbett | HB 595 | 03/31/2025 | Parental Rights for Curriculum and Books. |
| Hugh Blackwell and John A. Torbett | HB 596 | 03/31/2025 | Standards Advisory Commission. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Brian Biggs, David Willis, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 566 | 03/27/2025 | Principal Fellows Changes. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Cody Huneycutt, Kyle Hall, and Sarah Stevens | HB 443 | 03/18/2025 | Const. Amendment: Council of State Vacancies. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Carla D. Cunningham, Donna McDowell White, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 390 | 03/12/2025 | Alleviate the Dangers of Surgical Smoke. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Abe Jones, Garland E. Pierce, and Marcia Morey | HB 335 | 03/06/2025 | Expand Emergency Judge Eligibility. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Larry W. Potts, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 231 | 02/26/2025 | Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Kyle Hall, Mike Schietzelt, and Sarah Stevens | HB 182 | 02/24/2025 | Rev. Law Perm. Protect Order/Child Abuse. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Cody Huneycutt, Heather H. Rhyne, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 163 | 02/21/2025 | Pharmacy Benefits Manager Provisions. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Brian Biggs, David Willis, and John A. Torbett | HB 144 | 02/17/2025 | Elect SBE/Superintendent as SBE Chair. |
| Hugh Blackwell, Brian Echevarria, Donnie Loftis, and Harry Warren | HB 127 | 02/13/2025 | Voter Registration Drive Form. |
