A new bill filed by State Sen. Alexander seeks to protect law enforcement officers from retaliation when reporting improper activities or excessive force, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 548 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Protect Whistleblower LEOs from Retaliation.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill aims to protect law enforcement officers and criminal justice officers from retaliation when they report the use of excessive force or other improper activities. It mandates officers to intervene and report unauthorized force they witness within 72 hours. The bill prohibits disciplinary actions against officers who make such reports, except for misconduct that occurred prior to the report. It also restricts public employers from retaliating against officers who disclose violations of laws or regulations, though disciplinary actions unrelated to the report are allowed. Knowingly false reports are classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor. The bill becomes effective Dec. 1, 2025.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Bobby Hanig proposed the most bills (57) 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.
Alexander graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA.
Alexander, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 44th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Vickie Sawyer.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Todd Johnson | SB 548 | 03/25/2025 | Protect Whistleblower LEOs from Retaliation. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Brad Overcash, and Danny Earl Britt, Jr. | SB 655 | 03/25/2025 | Extend Certain Rights to Catawba Nation. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Brad Overcash, and Kevin Corbin | SB 689 | 03/25/2025 | 2025 Charter Schools Review Board Omnibus. |
| W. Ted Alexander and Vickie Sawyer | SB 697 | 03/25/2025 | Lake Norman Marine Commission. |
| W. Ted Alexander and Amy S. Galey | SB 723 | 03/25/2025 | DAC Exemption from State Device Content Ban. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Brad Overcash, and Michael A. Lazzara | SB 724 | 03/25/2025 | Safe Parks & Public Spaces Act. |
| W. Ted Alexander and Jim Burgin | SB 420 | 03/24/2025 | Redirect Lottery Advertising for Foster Care. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 359 | 03/20/2025 | Retirement Death Benefits Rewrite.-AB |
| W. Ted Alexander, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Jim Burgin | SB 361 | 03/20/2025 | Protecting First Responders Act. |
| W. Ted Alexander | SB 362 | 03/20/2025 | Strengthen Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 363 | 03/20/2025 | DST Technical Corrections/Admin. Changes 2025.-AB |
| W. Ted Alexander and Todd Johnson | SB 364 | 03/20/2025 | Shorter Separation for Retired ADAs and APDs. |
| W. Ted Alexander | SB 365 | 03/20/2025 | Theft of Temporary Housing During Emergency. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Amy S. Galey, and Carl Ford | SB 344 | 03/19/2025 | Pooled Trust Transfers/Public Benefits Elig. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Brad Overcash, and Mark Hollo | SB 329 | 03/18/2025 | Recognizing South Fork Passage State Trail. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Amy S. Galey, and Warren Daniel | SB 249 | 03/06/2025 | Exempt./Campaign Sales/Other Political Groups. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Eddie D. Settle, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 164 | 02/25/2025 | Theft of Temporary Housing During Emergency. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 135 | 02/24/2025 | Expand Homestead Exclusion Inc. Elig. Limit. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Carl Ford, and Eddie D. Settle | SB 123 | 02/21/2025 | Flags at Every School. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 91 | 02/12/2025 | Newborn Safety Devices. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 92 | 02/12/2025 | Released Time Education Act. |
| W. Ted Alexander | SB 79 | 02/11/2025 | Boiling Springs Charter Revisions. |
| W. Ted Alexander | SB 46 | 02/04/2025 | Lincoln/Catawba Common Boundary Line. |
