North Carolina Sen. Sawrey parents protection act bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Sen. Sawrey aims to amend juvenile care and adoption laws to protect raising children by their biological sex and address adoption and foster care practices in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

In the House, nine Democrats and 65 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 36 Democrats opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, three Democrats and 29 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 13 Democrats voted against it.

Sawrey filed the bill in the North Carolina Senate on March 24 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as SB 442, was passed on June 18 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “Parents Protection Act.”

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

In essence, this bill, titled the Parents Protection Act, introduces amendments to existing laws concerning juvenile care and child adoption in North Carolina. It stipulates that raising a child in accordance with their biological sex, including related mental health and medical decisions, shall not be grounds for child abuse or neglect claims. The bill also prohibits the denial or delay of adoption or foster care based on race or a foster/adoptive parent’s lack of support for a child’s gender transition. It includes provisions for recognizing the importance of keeping sibling groups together in social services placements. The act is set to take effect Dec. 1, 2025, and applies to relevant petitions and offenses from that date forward.

A related bill, HB 560, was also filed in the North Carolina House, introduced by Rep. Donnie Loftis (and three others) on March 27, 2025.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Jim Burgin (Republican-12th District), Sen. Amy S. Galey (Republican-25th District), and Sen. Benton G. Sawrey (Republican-10th District).

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.

Sawrey graduated from North Carolina State University in 2009 with a BA and again in 2013 from University of South Carolina School of Law with a JD.

Sawrey, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 10th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Brent Jackson.

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.