Sen. Bradley files bill in North Carolina Senate on law enforcement intervention and reporting

A new bill filed by State Sen. Woodson Bradley seeks to mandate intervention and timely reporting by law enforcement officers witnessing unlawful actions, aiming to enhance accountability within the justice system, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 431 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Protect Whistleblower LEOs from Retaliation.’

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

In essence, this bill mandates that law enforcement, criminal justice, and justice officers in North Carolina who observe excessive force or other unlawful activities must intervene and report these actions within 72 hours, if it is safe to do so. The officers are protected against termination, discipline, or retaliation for making such reports, though disciplinary actions can still be taken for prior misconduct. Knowingly false reports will be treated as a Class 2 misdemeanor. The bill also allocates $50,000 each from the General Fund to aid in training officers about these statutory changes, effective Dec. 1, 2025, for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Lisa Grafstein proposed the most bills (45) 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.

Bradley graduated from Hollins University in 1995 with a BA.

Bradley, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 42nd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Rachel Hunt.