Sen. Craven files bill in North Carolina Senate to revise bail bond laws

A new bill filed by Sen. Craven seeks to modify bail bond laws, aiming to clarify pretrial release conditions and improve procedural requirements in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 702 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Bail Bond Omnibus.’

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

In essence, the bill aims to modify laws related to bail bonds in North Carolina, including definitions and procedures for determining pretrial release conditions. It stipulates that a bail bond is valid for up to three years unless forfeiture is pending, and outlines circumstances under which bondsmen can be relieved of their obligations. Forfeiture notices must include specific information, and the reasons for setting aside a forfeiture are expanded to cover a defendant’s incarceration across federal or state facilities. The bill mandates district attorneys to submit information about defendants who fail to appear in court to the National Crime Information Center within 10 days. Additionally, electronic systems are prohibited from acting as bondsmen, and licensed sureties are granted access to real-time criminal records for evaluating clients. This act is effective October 1, 2025.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Danny Earl Britt, Jr. proposed the most bills (36) 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.

Craven graduated from the University of North Carolina Charlotte in 2012 with a BA.

Craven, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 29th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Steven Jarvis.