A new bill filed by State Rep. Price seeks to reform criminal sentence reductions by permitting eligible individuals to request modifications under specified conditions, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 589 on March 31 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘The Second Look 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 Second Look Act,” seeks to implement criminal sentence reduction reform in North Carolina by allowing individuals, except those sentenced to life imprisonment, to file a motion for sentence modification after serving either 10 years or 50% of their sentence for shorter terms. The court must determine that the defendant is not a danger to the community and that a sentence modification serves the interests of justice. Factors considered include the defendant’s behavior, rehabilitation efforts, age at the time of the offense, and any statements from victims or family. The bill becomes effective Dec. 1, 2025, applying to motions filed on or after that date.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Marcia Morey proposed the most bills (26) 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.
Prince graduated from Tufts University with a BA.
Prince, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 50th House district, replacing previous state representative Graig R. Meyer.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renée A. Price, Abe Jones, Julia Greenfield, and Marcia Morey | HB 589 | 03/31/2025 | The Second Look Act. |
| Renée A. Price, B. Ray Jeffers, James Roberson, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 601 | 03/31/2025 | Funds for Facilities of DAV Organizations. |
| Renée A. Price, Allen Buansi, Frank Iler, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 513 | 03/25/2025 | Strengthen Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. |
| Renée A. Price, Carla D. Cunningham, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 500 | 03/24/2025 | NC Adopt ERA. |
| Renée A. Price, Howard Penny, Jr., and Kanika Brown | HB 457 | 03/19/2025 | Increase Small County Funding. |
| Renée A. Price, Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, and Pricey Harrison | HB 458 | 03/19/2025 | Improve Enforcement/Migrant Housing. |
| Renée A. Price | HB 409 | 03/17/2025 | Funds for Caswell County Vol. Fire Department. |
| Renée A. Price, Allen Buansi, B. Ray Jeffers, and Zack Hawkins | HB 416 | 03/17/2025 | Funds for Boys & Girls Clubs. |
| Renée A. Price and Allen Buansi | HB 391 | 03/12/2025 | More APS Staff to Address Elder Abuse. |
| Renée A. Price, Donna McDowell White, Howard Penny, Jr., and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 363 | 03/11/2025 | Reg. Public Trans. Authority Service Area. |
| Renée A. Price, Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, and Maria Cervania | HB 303 | 03/05/2025 | Make Corporations Pay What They Owe. |
| Renée A. Price, Bryan Cohn, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Marcia Morey | HB 267 | 03/03/2025 | Expunging Certain Eviction Records. |
| Renée A. Price, James Roberson, and Maria Cervania | HB 248 | 02/27/2025 | Live/Work Exemption for One-Family Dwellings. |
| Renée A. Price, Donnie Loftis, Edward C. Goodwin, and Nasif Majeed | HB 254 | 02/27/2025 | Adopt Tuskegee Airmen Day. |
| Renée A. Price | HB 233 | 02/26/2025 | Funds for Town of Milton. |
| Renée A. Price, Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, and Pricey Harrison | HB 207 | 02/25/2025 | Remove Barriers to Labor Organizing. |
| Renée A. Price, Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, and Pricey Harrison | HB 178 | 02/24/2025 | Budgeting Accountability and Transparency. |
| Renée A. Price, Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, and Pricey Harrison | HB 180 | 02/24/2025 | Fiscally Responsible & Sustainable Budgeting. |
| Renée A. Price, Marcia Morey, Pricey Harrison, and Tracy Clark | HB 166 | 02/21/2025 | Allow ERPOs to Prevent Suicides & Save Lives. |
| Renée A. Price, Allen Buansi, Pricey Harrison, and Tim Longest | HB 131 | 02/13/2025 | Reenact Solar Energy Tax Credit. |
| Renée A. Price, Deb Butler, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 78 | 02/10/2025 | Prohibit LEO w/ICE Churches/Schools/Hospitals. |
| Renée A. Price, Deb Butler, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 80 | 02/10/2025 | Prohibit LEO w/ICE at Farm/Construct. Sites. |
| Renée A. Price and Allen Buansi | HB 51 | 02/04/2025 | SchCalFlex/Orange,CH-Car,Caswell/CC & Assmnts. |
