A new bill filed by State Rep. Jarrod Lowery in the North Carolina House seeks to exempt certain tribal members from hunting, trapping, and fishing license requirements while maintaining other legal obligations, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 103 on Feb. 11 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘NC Am. Indian Hunting/Fishing Rights.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill provides an exemption for North Carolina state-recognized tribal members from obtaining hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses on tribal land. It also extends this exemption to residents of the state who are members of state or federally recognized tribes for activities off tribal land, provided they have proper identification. These individuals must still comply with other legal requirements, including reporting, hunter education, and the purchase of federal migratory waterfowl stamps, akin to other license holders. The exemption does not apply to certain licenses specified under Articles 14A, 14B, or 25A. The act is set to take effect on Oct. 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Bill Ward proposed the most bills (six) 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.
Lowery graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2012 with a BS.
Lowery, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 47th House district, replacing previous state representative Charles Graham.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrod Lowery, Bill Ward, Mike Clampitt, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 103 | 02/11/2025 | NC Am. Indian Hunting/Fishing Rights. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Diane Wheatley, Harry Warren, and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 79 | 02/10/2025 | North Carolina Work and Save. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Allen Buansi, Allen Chesser, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 93 | 02/10/2025 | Constitutional Amendment/Repeal Literacy Test. |
