Rep. Logan files bill in North Carolina House addressing reckless boating offenses

A new bill filed by State Rep. Carolyn G. Logan in the North Carolina House seeks to establish legal offenses related to death or serious injury caused by reckless boating, 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.

Logan, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 101st House district, replacing previous state representative Beverly Earle.