Sen. Hollo files bill in North Carolina Senate on child passenger restraint systems

A new bill filed by State Sen. Hollo seeks to update North Carolina’s child passenger restraint laws to enhance safety for children under 16 during vehicle transport, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 430 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Revise Child Passenger Restraint System Law.’

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

In essence, the bill revises the North Carolina law governing the use of child passenger restraint systems. It mandates that drivers transporting passengers under 16 years of age must secure them in federally approved restraint systems. Specifically, children under eight years of age and under 57 inches in height are required to be in suitable child restraint systems, with a preference for rear seats unless exceptions apply. Children under five years old and weighing less than 40 pounds must be secured in the rear seat if the vehicle has an active front airbag and a rear seat available unless the restraint system is designed for front airbag use. When a lap and shoulder belt are unavailable, children under eight weighing 40 to 80 pounds may use a lap belt, while those at least eight years old or 57 inches tall may use standard seat belts, provided they fit properly. This act takes effect on Dec. 1, 2025, for offenses committed thereafter.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Gale Adcock proposed the most bills (12) 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.

Hollo graduated from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville in 1980 with a BS.

Hollo, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 45th Senate district, replacing previous state senator H. Dean Proctor.