A new bill filed by State Rep. Becky Carney in the North Carolina House seeks to create legal definitions and penalties for reckless boating causing death or serious injury, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 764 on April 3 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Establish Death by Reckless Boating.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes the offense of death or serious injury by reckless boating, effective Dec. 1, 2025. It defines the scenarios for these offenses, specifying that a person is guilty if they unintentionally cause death or serious injury while operating a vessel recklessly, provided they are not impaired. The offenses are classified as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the severity. Death by reckless boating is a Class A1 misdemeanor, while serious injury is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Aggravated versions, involving repeat offenders, are treated more severely with aggravated death classified as a Class F felony and aggravated serious injury as a Class I felony. The bill prohibits double prosecutions for death by reckless boating and manslaughter for the same incident.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Mitchell S. Setzer 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.
Carney, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2003 to represent the state’s 102nd House district, replacing previous state representative Ruth Easterling.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Becky Carney, Beth Helfrich, Carolyn G. Logan, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 764 | 04/03/2025 | Establish Death by Reckless Boating. |
| Becky Carney, Deb Butler, Pricey Harrison, and Zack Hawkins | HB 742 | 04/02/2025 | Healthy and High-Performing Schools. |
| Becky Carney, Maria Cervania, Mary Belk, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 752 | 04/02/2025 | Transportation Economic Development Funding. |
| Becky Carney, Bill Ward, Stephen M. Ross, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 657 | 04/01/2025 | Duke’s Rescue Act. |
| Becky Carney, Abe Jones, Robert T. Reives, II, and Shelly Willingham | HB 604 | 03/31/2025 | Rural and Downtown Community Eco. Dev. Grants. |
| Becky Carney, Carla D. Cunningham, Donny Lambeth, and Mary Belk | HB 525 | 03/26/2025 | Reorganize & Fund Rare Disease Adv. Council. |
| Becky Carney, Carolyn G. Logan, James Roberson, and Lindsey Prather | HB 550 | 03/26/2025 | Modify Mileage and Per Diem. |
| Becky Carney, Julia C. Howard, Mitchell S. Setzer, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 515 | 03/25/2025 | North Carolina Economic Abuse Prevention Act. |
| Becky Carney, Carla D. Cunningham, Cynthia Ball, and Mary Belk | HB 495 | 03/24/2025 | Accessing Midwives Act. |
| Becky Carney, Allen Buansi, Carla D. Cunningham, and Mary Belk | HB 460 | 03/19/2025 | Medical Equipment Right to Repair Act. |
| Becky Carney, Erin Paré, and Kyle Hall | HB 418 | 03/17/2025 | K-5 Performing and Visual Arts Requirement. |
| Becky Carney, Amos L. Quick, III, Carla D. Cunningham, and Kanika Brown | HB 398 | 03/13/2025 | Enact KinCare & Safe Days. |
| Becky Carney, Donna McDowell White, Donny Lambeth, and Mary Belk | HB 297 | 03/05/2025 | Breast Cancer Prevention Imaging Parity. |
