On Sunday, North Carolina will implement more than a dozen new laws.
The new laws include updated criteria for human trafficking, juvenile justice, and sex crimes, among other changes.
WXII has compiled a list of the new laws so you know what to expect:
‘Raise the Age’
Young adults between the ages of 16 and 17 who commit certain felonies may face automatic adult charges starting on Sunday. The initiative “Raise the Age” aimed to prevent young offenders from entering the adult criminal justice system.
Until 2019, North Carolina was the only state in the country that automatically charged all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults, even for minor crimes.
This new law also outlines the transfer procedure for indicted juvenile cases. It comes as Triad officers have noticed an increase in serious crimes committed by young people. You can learn more about HB 834 here.
Human trafficking awareness
Starting December 1, the Department of Labor will begin developing human trafficking awareness training. The new law also increases the penalty for the first offense of soliciting a prostitute and changes the definition of a victim. Click here to learn more about House Bill 971.
Agriculture laws
The state’s agriculture laws will change beginning December 1. First, a new law clarifies that horse boarding is included in the definition of agriculture under Senate Bill 355. This includes raising, managing, caring for, and training horses. The law also requires identification when transporting swine and the mandatory suspension of licenses or permits for a set period of time if the holder is convicted of certain crimes.
Gas station heroin
The highly addictive substance tianeptine, also known as “gas station heroin,” will be removed from North Carolina shelves on Sunday.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, tianeptine, when used alone or in combination with other drugs, can cause agitation, drowsiness, confusion, sweating, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, slowed or stopped breathing, coma, and death.