A new bill filed by State Rep. Brandon Lofton in the North Carolina House aims to strengthen individuals’ ability to pursue legal action for violations of their constitutional rights, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 1150 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘NC Constitutional Rights Act/Funds.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill creates the North Carolina Constitutional Rights Act, giving any person in the state a civil cause of action against anyone who, under color of law, violates their rights under the U.S. Constitution. It allows suits to be filed in specified counties and permits compensatory damages, declaratory or injunctive relief, and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs for prevailing plaintiffs. Defendants may assert only those defenses and immunities available in federal Section 1983 actions, and claims must be filed within three years. The act preserves existing remedies, does not waive state sovereign immunity and includes severability. It appropriates $150,000 in nonrecurring funds to the Department of Justice for 2026-27 to educate the public, effective July 1, 2026, and otherwise takes effect October 1, 2026.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Phil Rubin proposed the most bills (38) 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.
Lofton graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001 with a BA and again in 2004 from New York University School of Law with a JD.
Lofton, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 104th House district, replacing previous state representative Andy Dulin.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Lofton, Beth Helfrich, Phil Rubin, and Vernetta Alston | HB 1150 | 04/30/2026 | NC Constitutional Rights Act/Funds. |
| Brandon Lofton, Julie von Haefen, Lindsey Prather, and Sarah Crawford | HB 1158 | 04/30/2026 | Increase Market Rate/Rate Floor/Child Subsidy. |
| Brandon Lofton, Donna McDowell White, Donny Lambeth, and Sarah Crawford | HB 1159 | 04/30/2026 | Investing in Teen Mental Health. |
| Brandon Lofton, Julie von Haefen, Lindsey Prather, and Sarah Crawford | HB 1160 | 04/30/2026 | Reduce Parent Copays/Child Care Subsidy/Funds. |
| Brandon Lofton, Beth Helfrich, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 1066 | 04/27/2026 | Child Care Stabilization & Affordability Act. |
| Brandon Lofton, Becky Carney, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 944 | 04/10/2025 | Fund Community Health Svcs/Mecklenburg County. |
| Brandon Lofton, Deb Butler, Eric Ager, and Tim Longest | HB 960 | 04/10/2025 | UI/Give Enhanced Benefits During Disasters. |
| Brandon Lofton, Beth Helfrich, Laura Budd, and Mary Belk | HB 840 | 04/09/2025 | Reward Schools for Student Growth. |
| Brandon Lofton, Brian Biggs, Hugh Blackwell, and Paul Scott | HB 855 | 04/09/2025 | Residency Licenses for Nonpublic EC Teachers. |
| Brandon Lofton, Carla D. Cunningham, Donna McDowell White, and Donny Lambeth | HB 766 | 04/03/2025 | Expand Access to Teen Mental Health First Aid. |
| Brandon Lofton and Donny Lambeth | HB 767 | 04/03/2025 | Market Rate Teacher Pay Study. |
| Brandon Lofton and David Willis | HB 785 | 04/03/2025 | School Funding Flexibility Study. |
| Brandon Lofton, Cynthia Ball, Dante Pittman, and Garland E. Pierce | HB 786 | 04/03/2025 | Working Families Act. |
| Brandon Lofton, David Willis, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 708 | 04/02/2025 | IROBOT – Increasing Robotics Opportunities. |
| Brandon Lofton, Carla D. Cunningham, Cecil Brockman, and Cynthia Ball | HB 715 | 04/02/2025 | Universal Pre-K. |
| Brandon Lofton and Stephen M. Ross | HB 755 | 04/02/2025 | Nonprofit Sales Tax Exemption. |
| Brandon Lofton, Julie von Haefen, Robert T. Reives, II, and Vernetta Alston | HB 645 | 04/01/2025 | Friendly NC Act. |
| Brandon Lofton, Beth Helfrich, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 651 | 04/01/2025 | Reduce Parent Copays/Child Care Subsidy/Funds. |
| Brandon Lofton, Cynthia Ball, Phil Rubin, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 608 | 03/31/2025 | Protect Health and Gov’t Personnel Info. |
| Brandon Lofton, Beth Helfrich, Robert T. Reives, II, and Tim Longest | HB 628 | 03/31/2025 | Reenact Child Tax Credit. |
| Brandon Lofton and Tim Longest | HB 630 | 03/31/2025 | Restore LEA Sales Tax Benefit. |
| Brandon Lofton and Julia C. Howard | HB 631 | 03/31/2025 | State Infrastructure Bank Study. |
| Brandon Lofton, Allen Chesser, Heather H. Rhyne, and Kyle Hall | HB 517 | 03/25/2025 | Modify Nonprofit Corp. Act/Charitable Org. |
| Brandon Lofton, Donnie Loftis, and Frances Jackson, PhD | HB 482 | 03/24/2025 | Reauthorize & Revise Teacher Bonuses/Military. |
| Brandon Lofton and Amos L. Quick, III | HB 484 | 03/24/2025 | Honoring NC’s Contributions to Civil Rights. |
| Brandon Lofton, Mary Belk, Terry M. Brown Jr., and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 265 | 03/03/2025 | SchCalFlex/Char-Meck/CC. |
