A new bill filed by State Rep. John M. Blust in the North Carolina House seeks to evaluate the potential impacts of removing contributory negligence in the state, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 969 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Study the Abolition of Contrib. Negligence.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill directs the Legislative Research Commission (LRC) to study the potential abolition of contributory negligence in North Carolina. The study will consider whether removing contributory negligence would improve outcomes for residents, identify current harms associated with maintaining the doctrine, and assess the fiscal impact of adopting a new negligence framework. The LRC will explore options such as modified and pure comparative negligence and make recommendations to the 2026 Regular Session of the 2025 General Assembly. The act becomes effective upon becoming law.
Of the two sponsors of this bill, Blust proposed the most bills (22) 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.
Blust graduated from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 1979 with a BS and again in 1982 from University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill with a JD.
Blust, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 62nd House district, replacing previous state representative John Faircloth Jr..
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| John M. Blust and Tim Longest | HB 969 | 04/10/2025 | Study the Abolition of Contrib. Negligence. |
| John M. Blust | HB 1006 | 04/10/2025 | Const. Amend. Single Subject Bills. |
| John M. Blust | HB 899 | 04/10/2025 | Return Oversight of OSFM to DOI Commissioner. |
| John M. Blust | HB 900 | 04/10/2025 | Legislators Documents Confidentiality Change. |
| John M. Blust, Marcia Morey, and Pricey Harrison | HB 916 | 04/10/2025 | Strengthen Do Not Call/Text Registry. |
| John M. Blust, Hugh Blackwell, Julia C. Howard, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 891 | 04/09/2025 | Civil Actions/State Agency and AG Litigation. |
| John M. Blust, Amos L. Quick, III, Jerry “Alan” Branson, and Tracy Clark | HB 748 | 04/02/2025 | Funds/Greensboro Water and Wastewater. |
| John M. Blust, Amos L. Quick, III, Pricey Harrison, and Tracy Clark | HB 749 | 04/02/2025 | Greensboro Public Safety Funds. |
| John M. Blust | HB 678 | 04/01/2025 | Ensure Constitutional Government. |
| John M. Blust, Dean Arp, Dennis Riddell, and Jonathan L. Almond | HB 606 | 03/31/2025 | Civil Procedure Amendment. |
| John M. Blust | HB 539 | 03/26/2025 | Revenue Neutral Rate Required. |
| John M. Blust, Jerry “Alan” Branson, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 544 | 03/26/2025 | Tax Credit for Rehab. Corp. Campus. |
| John M. Blust, Harry Warren, Mike Schietzelt, and Ted Davis, Jr. | HB 375 | 03/11/2025 | AI/Ban Deceptive Ads. |
| John M. Blust, Amos L. Quick, III, Jerry “Alan” Branson, and Tracy Clark | HB 342 | 03/10/2025 | Guilford County Schools Funding Requests. |
| John M. Blust | HB 305 | 03/05/2025 | Guilford County Sales Tax Distribution Mods. |
| John M. Blust, Dean Arp, Dennis Riddell, and Destin Hall | HB 310 | 03/05/2025 | Eminent Domain. |
| John M. Blust | HB 226 | 02/26/2025 | City of Greensboro/Deannexations. |
| John M. Blust | HB 212 | 02/25/2025 | Condemnation/Service on Spouses Not Required. |
| John M. Blust, Harry Warren, Jake Johnson, and Julia C. Howard | HB 154 | 02/18/2025 | Reclaim State Assets from NCInnovation. |
| John M. Blust, Donny Lambeth, Harry Warren, and Paul Scott | HB 142 | 02/17/2025 | Implement Zero-Based Budgeting. |
| John M. Blust, Edward C. Goodwin, and Mike Clampitt | HB 57 | 02/04/2025 | Adopt State Veterans Museum. |
