A new bill filed by State Rep. Brian Biggs in the North Carolina House seeks to mandate a course on alcohol and drug abuse awareness for certain driver’s license applicants, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 217 on Feb. 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Driver Educ./18 Yrs & Older & Unlicensed.’
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 individuals aged 18 and older applying for a driver’s license in North Carolina, who are not already licensed in another state or have not completed a Department of Education driver education course, must take a three-hour course on alcohol and drug abuse awareness. The course can be conducted online or in person and includes instruction on the physiological and psychological impacts of substance abuse, the effects on driving, state motor vehicle laws, and risky driving behaviors such as fatigue, aggression, and distraction. The Division of Motor Vehicles will use third-party vendors to deliver the course, ensuring compliance and maintaining oversight. A fee, determined by the Division, will be charged for participation in the course. This act is set to take effect Oct. 1, 2025.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Biggs and Jarrod Lowery proposed the most bills (11) 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.
Biggs, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 70th House district, replacing previous state representative Patricia Hurley.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Biggs, Charles Smith, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 217 | 02/25/2025 | Driver Educ./18 Yrs & Older & Unlicensed. |
| Brian Biggs, Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, and Neal Jackson | HB 186 | 02/24/2025 | The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act. |
| Brian Biggs | HB 161 | 02/21/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Randolph Co. |
| Brian Biggs, David Willis, Hugh Blackwell, and John A. Torbett | HB 144 | 02/17/2025 | Elect SBE/Superintendent as SBE Chair. |
| Brian Biggs, Allen Chesser, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 112 | 02/12/2025 | Increase Permissible Interstate Speed Limit. |
| Brian Biggs, Julia C. Howard, Kyle Hall, and Steve Tyson | HB 96 | 02/11/2025 | Expedited Removal of Unauthorized Persons. |
| Brian Biggs, Donnie Loftis, John A. Torbett, and Kelly E. Hastings | HB 86 | 02/10/2025 | Citizens’ Expungement Clarification of 2025. |
| Brian Biggs, Blair Eddins, Mike Schietzelt, and Neal Jackson | HB 87 | 02/10/2025 | Cell Phone-Free Education. |
| Brian Biggs, Donny Lambeth, Larry W. Potts, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 60 | 02/04/2025 | Modernize Medicaid Dental Rates. |
| Brian Biggs, Kyle Hall, Neal Jackson, and Stephen M. Ross | HB 31 | 02/03/2025 | Make Election Day A State Holiday. |
| Brian Biggs, Celeste C. Cairns, Erin ParĂ©, and Keith Kidwell | HB 4 | 01/29/2025 | Sam’s Law. |
