Senate bill proposes commission to review and release Epstein case records in North Carolina

State Sen. Michael Garrett has brought forward a bill designed to boost transparency by establishing a process for reviewing and making certain Jeffrey Epstein investigation records public, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

Filed as SB 989 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, the bill is officially titled ‘Epstein Truth and Accountability Act.’

Below is our summary, referencing the actual bill text, with clarification of its main provisions.

This legislation proposes a Human Trafficking Records Commission within the Department of Justice to oversee the review and public release of relevant North Carolina records from the Jeffrey Epstein probe, excluding information that could identify victims. It restricts legislative privilege for any General Assembly members named in the records and designates released materials as public. The State Bureau of Investigation would be able to assist the commission. The measure also outlines a method for district court judges to grant extreme risk protection orders, which would remove firearms and permits from certain individuals mentioned in the records. The bill allocates $5 million each to the Department of Justice and the Department of Public Safety to support the commission’s work and associated investigations, effective upon becoming law.

Among the bill’s three sponsors, Woodson Bradley led by introducing 92 bills during the 2025 regular session.

Lawmakers in North Carolina use a multi-step legislative process for bills to become law. Sponsors begin by filing a bill, after which it goes to a committee. Each chamber must read the bill three times. Any amendments require agreement from both chambers. Once there is consensus, the bill is sent to the governor, who then has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is adjourned) to sign, veto or allow the bill to become law without action.

Additional information about this and other legislative action is available here.

Garrett earned a BSBA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2007.

A Democrat, Garrett was elected to serve the 27th Senate district in the North Carolina State Senate in 2019, succeeding former state senator Trudy Wade.