Rep. Balkcom files bail bonds reform bill in North Carolina House

A new bill filed by State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom in the North Carolina House seeks to revise bail bond laws and clarify conditions for surety obligations and forfeiture processes, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 716 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Bail Bond Omnibus.’

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

In essence, this bill revises laws related to bail bonds in North Carolina and is effective Oct. 1, 2025. It amends the conditions under which a bail bond is valid and details the circumstances that terminate the obligation of a surety, including voluntary dismissal by the State or a judge’s release of the obligor. It specifies the requirements for setting aside forfeiture, outlines the procedures for contesting forfeiture through motions, and mandates district attorneys to promptly submit information on defendants who fail to appear in court to the National Crime Information Center. Additionally, the bill addresses electronic filing requirements, restricts electronic systems from acting as bondsmen, and permits sureties and their agents to access real-time criminal records to evaluate clients.

A related bill, SB 702, was also filed in the North Carolina Senate, introduced by Sen. David W. Craven, Jr. (and two others) on March 25, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Balkcom proposed the most bills (32) 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.

Balkcom graduated from Blue Ridge Community College in 2016 with an AA.

Balkcom, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 117th House district, replacing previous state representative Timothy Moffitt.