Rep. Jackson files bill in North Carolina House on juvenile care and adoption

A new bill filed by State Rep. Neal Jackson in the North Carolina House seeks to protect parental rights and regulate adoption and foster care practices related to a child’s biological sex, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 560 on March 27 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Parents Protection Act.’

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

In essence, this bill, known as the Parents Protection Act, introduces changes to laws regarding juvenile care and adoption in North Carolina. It stipulates that parents, guardians, or caretakers cannot be subject to claims of abuse or neglect solely for raising a child in alignment with their biological sex. It also prohibits agencies from denying or delaying adoption or foster care placement based on the adoptive or foster parents’ race, color, national origin, or their stance on a child’s gender transition. Mental health and medical decisions related to a child’s biological sex are protected under this bill, with the caveat that other acts of abuse or neglect remain prosecutable. The effective date for all provisions, including those related to child abuse misdemeanors and felonies, is Dec. 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Donnie Loftis proposed the most bills (33) 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.

Jackson, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 78th House district, replacing previous state representative Allen McNeill.