Sen. Johnson files bill in North Carolina Senate to ban TikTok on government devices

A new bill filed by State Sen. Todd Johnson seeks to restrict the use of TikTok and certain other applications on government devices and during participation in state-funded programs, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 408 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘No High Risk Apps/Gov’t Networks & Devices.’

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

In essence, this bill prohibits the use of TikTok and other specified applications on government-issued devices and during participation in state-funded programs in North Carolina. It restricts employees, contractors, and participants in these programs from downloading or accessing these applications on devices provided by the state or its local subdivisions. Specifically, TikTok and WeChat, along with any successor applications developed or provided by ByteDance Limited and Tencent Holdings Limited, are identified as restricted “covered applications.” The bill mandates the removal of such applications from government devices within 30 days of enactment and allows exceptions for prosecutorial, law enforcement, and investigative purposes. By March 1, 2025, departments must establish guidelines for secure use by these agencies. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Timothy D. Moffitt proposed the most bills (52) 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.

Johnson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2000 with a BA.

Johnson, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 35th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Tommy Tucker.