North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina H1186: Equipping Law Enf. for Better Drug Detection.
Status: In committee, May 5, 2026
What the bill says
An act directing the north carolina collaboratory to establish and implement a pilot program to provide participating law enforcement agencies with new drug-detecting technology to improve controlled substance investigations and reduce the risk of false arrests.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT DIRECTING THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLABORATORY TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE PARTICIPATING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITH NEW DRUG-DETECTING TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE INVESTIGATIONS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF FALSE ARRESTS. Whereas, law enforcement agencies in North Carolina currently utilize various presumptive field drug tests that vary significantly in their accuracy and reliability, as well as their risks to officer safety due to handling of unknown substances; and Whereas, new research from the Quattrone Center at University of Pennsylvania Law School indicates that traditional "colorimetric" field drug test packets, which are commonly used in North Carolina, are prone to false positives that can lead to the wrongful arrest of innocent individuals and misdirection of valuable police resources; and Whereas, the use of error-prone testing methods undermines community trust and reduces public cooperation with law enforcement, which is essential for solving crimes and ensuring public safety; and Whereas, new technology exists that may more accurately and safely identify potential controlled substances in the field, and some of these devices can analyze new synthetic substances that escape colorimetric field tests altogether; and Whereas, law enforcement officers deserve access to the most advanced, safe, and effective drug-detecting technology available to combat the fentanyl crisis and emerging synthetic substances; and Whereas, reducing the risk …
Sponsors
- Chesser, Allen (R, 25) · primary sponsor
- Pyrtle, A. Reece (R, 65) · primary sponsor
- Rhyne, Heather H. (R, 97) · primary sponsor
- Rubin, Phil (D, 40) · primary sponsor
- Branson, Jerry (R, 59)
- Brown, Gloristine (D, 8)
- Cairns, Celeste C. (R, 13)
- Carver, Todd (R, 95)
- Colvin, Mike (D, 42)
- Cotham (R)
- Cunningham, Carla D. (I, 106)
- Humphrey, Chris (R, 12)
Latest actions
- : Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- : Passed 1st Reading
- : Filed
Subjects: PILOT PROGRAMS, TESTING, DRUG & ALCOHOL TESTING, PUBLIC, POLICY COLLABORATORY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, UNC
Common questions
- What is H1186?
- H1186 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Equipping Law Enf. for Better Drug Detection.
- What does H1186 do?
- In its own words: An act directing the north carolina collaboratory to establish and implement a pilot program to provide participating law enforcement agencies with new drug-detecting technology to improve controlled substance investigations and reduce the risk of false arrests.
- What is the status of H1186?
- In committee as of May 5, 2026. Latest action: Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (May 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored H1186?
- Chesser, Allen (R, 25), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H1186?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H1186
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.