A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT eliminating DRIVING ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATE AND driving log REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF LIMITED LEARNER'S PERMITS AND PROVISIONAL DRIVERS LICENSES, AUTHORIZING ONLINE APPLICATION FOR FULL PROVISIONAL DRIVERS LICENSES, temporarily reducing the minimum time period required for holding a limited learner's permit, EXTENDING THE AMOUNT OF TIME A NEW RESIDENT HAS TO OBTAIN A LICENSE IN THIS STATE, AND REQUIRING THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I. eliminate driving ELIGIBILITY certificate and driving log requirements for the issuance of learner's permits and provisional drivers licenses
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑11 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑11.  Issuance of limited learner's permit and provisional drivers license to person who is less than 18 years old.
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(b)	Level 1. – A person who is at least 15 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain a limited learner's permit if the person meets all of the following requirements:
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(d)	Level 2. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain a limited provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements:
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(f)	Level 3. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain a full provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements:
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(h)	Exception for Persons 16 to 18 Who Have an Unrestricted Out‑of‑State License. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old, who was a resident of another state and has an unrestricted drivers license issued by that state, and who becomes a resident of this State may obtain one of the following:
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PART II. AUTHORIZE ONLINE APPLICATION TO OBTAIN A FULL PROVISIONAL DRIVERS LICENSE
SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 20‑11(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	Level 3. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain a full provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements:
(1)	Has held a limited provisional license issued by the Division for at least six months.
(2)	Has not been convicted of a motor vehicle moving violation or seat belt infraction or a violation of G.S. 20‑137.3 during the preceding six months.
(3)	Has a driving eligibility certificate or a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(4)	Has completed a driving log, on a form approved by the Division, detailing a minimum of 12 hours as the operator of a motor vehicle of a class for which the driver is licensed. The log must show at least six hours of the required driving occurred during nighttime hours. The driving log must be signed by the supervising driver for any hours driven outside the provisions of subdivision (e)(2) of this section and submitted to the Division at the time the applicant seeks to obtain a full provisional license. If the Division has cause to believe that a driving log has been falsified, the limited provisional licensee shall be required to complete a new driving log with the same requirements and shall not be eligible to obtain a full provisional license for six months.
A person who meets these requirements may obtain a full provisional license by applying online or by mail."
SECTION 2.(b)  The Division of Motor Vehicles shall develop a process by which an applicant for a Level 3 full provisional license may submit any documentation required to establish eligibility to obtain the license, electronically or by mail, without having to appear in person at a drivers license office. The Division shall issue a Level 3 full provisional license to an applicant who meets the statutory requirements and provides required documentation electronically or by mail.

PART III. Conforming changes
SECTION 3.(a)  The following statutes are repealed:
(1)	G.S. 20‑9(b1).
(2)	G.S. 20‑13.2(c1).
(3)	G.S. 115C‑12(28).
(4)	G.S. 115C‑218.70.
(5)	G.S. 115C‑238.66(8).
(6)	G.S. 115C‑288(k).
(7)	G.S. 115C‑566.
(8)	G.S. 115D‑5(a3).
SECTION 3.(b)  G.S. 115C‑150.12C reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑150.12C.  Powers and duties.
A board of trustees shall adopt rules necessary for the administration of the school to implement the requirements of this Article. Each board of trustees shall have the following powers and duties:
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(19)	Drivers education. – The board of trustees shall provide drivers education in accordance with Article 14 of this Chapter.
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PART IV. TEMPORARILY REDUCE THE MINIMUM TIME PERIOD REQUIRED FOR HOLDING A LIMITED LEARNER'S PERMIT
SECTION 4.  G.S. 20‑11(d) reads as rewritten:
"(d)	Level 2. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain a limited provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements:
(1)	Has held a limited learner's permit issued by the Division for at least six months.
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PART V. EXTEND THE AMOUNT OF TIME A NEW RESIDENT HAS TO OBTAIN A LICENSE IN NORTH CAROLINA
SECTION 5.  G.S. 20‑7(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	License Required. – To drive a motor vehicle on a highway, a person must be licensed by the Division under this Article or Article 2C of this Chapter to drive the vehicle and must carry the license while driving the vehicle. The Division issues regular drivers licenses under this Article and issues commercial drivers licenses under Article 2C.
A license authorizes the holder of the license to drive any vehicle included in the class of the license and any vehicle included in a lesser class of license, except a vehicle for which an endorsement is required. To drive a vehicle for which an endorsement is required, a person must obtain both a license and an endorsement for the vehicle. A regular drivers license is considered a lesser class of license than its commercial counterpart.
The classes of regular drivers licenses and the motor vehicles that can be driven with each class of license are:
(1)	Class A. – A Class A license authorizes the holder to drive any of the following:
a.	A Class A motor vehicle that is exempt under G.S. 20‑37.16 from the commercial drivers license requirements.
b.	A Class A motor vehicle that has a combined GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds and includes as part of the combination a towed unit that has a GVWR of at least 10,001 pounds.
(2)	Class B. – A Class B license authorizes the holder to drive any Class B motor vehicle that is exempt under G.S. 20‑37.16 from the commercial drivers license requirements.
(3)	Class C. – A Class C license authorizes the holder to drive any of the following:
a.	A Class C motor vehicle that is not a commercial motor vehicle.
b.	When operated by a volunteer member of a fire department, a rescue squad, or an emergency medical service (EMS) in the performance of duty, a Class A or Class B fire‑fighting, rescue, or EMS motor vehicle or a combination of these vehicles.
c.	A combination of noncommercial motor vehicles that have a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds but less than 26,001 pounds. This sub‑subdivision does not apply to a Class C license holder less than 18 years of age.
The Commissioner may assign a unique motor vehicle to a class that is different from the class in which it would otherwise belong.
A person holding a commercial drivers license issued by another jurisdiction must apply for a transfer and obtain a North Carolina issued commercial drivers license within 30 days of becoming a resident. Any other new resident of North Carolina who has a drivers license issued by another jurisdiction must obtain a license from the Division within six months after becoming a resident. The Division shall waive the vision exam for a drivers license applicant with a license issued by another jurisdiction if the license was issued within 12 months of the application date. The Division shall allow the applicant to submit any documentation required by the Division electronically, by mail, or in person."

PART VI. DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO MAKE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY FOR DRIVERS LICENSE APPLICANTS
SECTION 6.  The Division of Motor Vehicles shall make a good‑faith effort to prioritize new resident drivers license applicants, commercial drivers license applicants, and first‑time drivers license applicants in providing appointment availability. The Division shall also clearly outline on the Division's website the services that are available to customers online or by other means that do not require an in‑person office visit.

PART VII. EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 7.  Parts I through III of this act become effective October 1, 2025, and apply to limited learner's permit or provisional license applications submitted on or after that date. Part IV of this act is effective when it becomes law and applies to limited provisional license applications submitted on or after that date. Part IV of this act expires on December 31, 2025. Part V of this act becomes effective October 1, 2025. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.