North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina H537: Alena's Law & Office of Vital Records Changes.
Status: Signed into law, July 1, 2025
What the bill says
An act to allow for a presumption of death in instances where the disappearance and continued absence of a person coincides with a disaster declaration and to promote greater efficiency in the office of vital records by establishing a deadline for processing birth and death certificate amendment requests and by prohibiting office of vital records employees from teleworking, except as necessary during declared emergencies.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT TO ALLOW FOR A PRESUMPTION OF DEATH IN INSTANCES WHERE THE DISAPPEARANCE AND CONTINUED ABSENCE OF A PERSON COINCIDES WITH A DISASTER DECLARATION AND TO PROMOTE GREATER EFFICIENCY IN THE OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS BY ESTABLISHING A DEADLINE FOR PROCESSING BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATE AMENDMENT REQUESTS AND BY PROHIBITING OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS EMPLOYEES FROM TELEWORKING, EXCEPT AS NECESSARY DURING DECLARED EMERGENCIES. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. G.S. 28C-1 reads as exposure to peril and certain presumptions to be considered. (a) Death Not to Be Presumed from Mere Absence. - In any action under this Chapter, where the death of a person and the date thereof, or either, is in issue the fact that he has been absent from his place of residence, unheard of for seven years, or for any other period, creates no presumption requiring the judge or the jury to find that he is now deceased. The issue shall be decided by the judge as one of fact upon the evidence. (b) Exposure to Specific Peril to Be Considered. - If during such absence the person has been exposed to a specific peril of death, this fact shall be considered by the judge; or if there be a jury, shall be sufficient evidence to be submitted to the jury. (c) Federal …
Sponsors
- Greene, Dudley (R, 85) · primary sponsor
- Stevens, Sarah (R, 90) · primary sponsor
- Ager, Eric (D, 114)
- Arp, Dean (R, 69)
- Echevarria, Brian (R, 82)
- Eddins, Blair (R, 94)
- Loftis, Donnie (R, 109)
- McNeely, Jeffrey C. (R, 84)
- Pickett, Ray (R, 93)
- Ward, Bill (R, 5)
- White, Donna McDowell (R, 26)
Latest actions
- : Ch. SL 2025-44
- : Signed by Gov. 7/1/2025
- : Pres. To Gov. 6/26/2025
- : Ratified
- : Ordered Enrolled
- : Concurred In S Com Sub
- : Placed On Cal For 06/24/2025
- : Cal Pursuant 36(b)
- : Special Message Received For Concurrence in S Com Sub
- : Special Message Sent To House
Votes
- Alena's Law and Office of Vital Records Changes. M11 Concur (June 24, 2025): 108 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Alena's Law and Office of Vital Records Changes. Second Reading (June 19, 2025): 42 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Alena's Law. Second Reading (April 16, 2025): 111 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: NAMED LAWS, RATIFIED, DHHS, PUBLIC, DEATH & DYING, DISASTERS & EMERGENCIES, TELECOMMUTING, PRESENTED
Common questions
- What is H537?
- H537 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Alena's Law & Office of Vital Records Changes.
- What does H537 do?
- In its own words: An act to allow for a presumption of death in instances where the disappearance and continued absence of a person coincides with a disaster declaration and to promote greater efficiency in the office of vital records by establishing a deadline for processing birth and death certificate amendment requests and by prohibiting office of vital records employees from teleworking, except as necessary during declared emergencies.
- What is the status of H537?
- Signed into law as of July 1, 2025. Latest action: Ch. SL 2025-44 (July 1, 2025).
- Who sponsored H537?
- Greene, Dudley (R, 85), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H537?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H537
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.