Rep. Arp files bill in North Carolina House on malpractice and gender transition cases

A new bill filed by State Rep. Dean Arp in the North Carolina House seeks to clarify timelines and conditions for malpractice and gender transition-related legal actions, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 606 on March 31 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Civil Procedure Amendment.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the civil procedure statute relating to the accrual of actions in North Carolina, specifically addressing malpractice cases and actions connected to gender transition services. It sets distinct timelines for filing malpractice suits, stating a cause of action accrues at the time of the defendant’s last act, with varying time limits for different situations such as undiscovered injuries and foreign objects left in a body. Additionally, for cases related to gender transition services, actions can be commenced within 25 years from the claimant’s 18th birthday or four years from the discovery of both the injury and the causal relationship, whichever is later, and prohibits contractual waivers of liability related to these actions. The act is effective upon becoming law and applies to cases accruing thereafter.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Dennis Riddell proposed the most bills (16) 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.

Arp graduated from The Military College of South Carolina in 1988 with a BS.

Arp, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2013 to represent the state’s 69th House district, replacing previous state representative Frank McGuirt.