A new bill filed by State Rep. Mark Brody in the North Carolina House seeks to allow residents of care homes to use electronic monitoring devices in their rooms, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 591 on March 31 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Elec. Monitoring in Nursing/Adult Care Homes.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill, known as The G.U.A.R.D. Act, permits residents of nursing and adult care homes in North Carolina to install electronic monitoring devices in their rooms at their own expense, effective Oct. 1, 2025. Facilities must provide power sources and mounting space for these devices and cannot refuse residency based on a monitoring request. Recordings are admissible in both civil and criminal legal actions, subject to evidence rules. Facilities face Class A1 misdemeanor penalties for non-compliance, including fines up to $2,000 or one year of imprisonment. Tampering with the devices without consent also results in a similar penalty.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Donnie Loftis proposed the most bills (37) 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.
Brody graduated from Concordia University, Wisconsin with a BA.
Brody, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2013 to represent the state’s 55th House district, replacing previous state representative Frank McGuirt.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Brody, David Willis, and Donnie Loftis | HB 591 | 03/31/2025 | Elec. Monitoring in Nursing/Adult Care Homes. |
| Mark Brody, Dennis Riddell, Jarrod Lowery, and Steve Tyson | HB 605 | 03/31/2025 | Definitions for Advanced Recycling. |
| Mark Brody, Allison A. Dahle, John R. Bell, IV, and Wyatt Gable | HB 520 | 03/25/2025 | Abuse and Deception by Telemarketers. |
| Mark Brody, Allison A. Dahle, Donnie Loftis, and Howard Penny, Jr. | HB 369 | 03/11/2025 | Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act. |
| Mark Brody, Dennis Riddell, and Jeff Zenger | HB 376 | 03/11/2025 | Various On-Site Wastewater & Well Provisions. |
| Mark Brody, Dudley Greene, Howard Penny, Jr., and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 184 | 02/24/2025 | Promote North Carolina Sawmills. |
| Mark Brody, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Rodney D. Pierce, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 128 | 02/13/2025 | Establish Prostate Cancer Control Program. |
| Mark Brody, Dennis Riddell, Harry Warren, and Mary Belk | HB 99 | 02/11/2025 | Reflexologists Right to Work Act. |
| Mark Brody, Destin Hall, Mike Schietzelt, and Stephen M. Ross | HB 92 | 02/10/2025 | NC Digital Assets Investments Act. |
| Mark Brody, Brian Echevarria, Mike Clampitt, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 64 | 02/05/2025 | Const. Amend. – Gubernatorial Clemency. |
| Mark Brody, Harry Warren, Julia C. Howard, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 48 | 02/04/2025 | Increase UI Max Benefit/2025 UI Tax Credit. |
