A new bill filed by State Rep. Pyrtle in the North Carolina House seeks to limit court filings by individuals adjudicated as incompetent to be made only through guardians or legal counsel, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 354 on March 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Civil Procedure/Gatekeeper Orders/Database.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends Rule 17 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure by introducing provisions for issuing gatekeeper orders. Specifically, it mandates that individuals adjudicated as incompetent may file court pleadings only through their guardian or legal counsel. If such individuals attempt to file on their own, the court is required to strike the filing and issue a gatekeeper order to prevent further unauthorized filings. Additionally, the bill directs the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop a database of all individuals adjudicated as incompetent in North Carolina, accessible to judges and Clerks of Superior Court. This act takes effect Dec. 1, 2025, and applies to actions and proceedings commenced or ongoing on or after that date.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Charles W. Miller proposed the most bills (24) 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.
Pyrtle graduated from Appalachian State University in 1989 with a BAS.
Pyrtle, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 65th House district, replacing previous state representative Jerry Carter.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Brenden H. Jones, Charles W. Miller, and Dudley Greene | HB 354 | 03/10/2025 | Civil Procedure/Gatekeeper Orders/Database. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Brenden H. Jones, Charles W. Miller, and Dudley Greene | HB 355 | 03/10/2025 | OSFM to Study Future of Rural Firefighting. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, Cody Huneycutt, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 330 | 03/06/2025 | Controlled Substances Act – Updates. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, Charles W. Miller, and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 300 | 03/05/2025 | Vet Care for Retired First Responder Dogs. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, Charles W. Miller, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 315 | 03/05/2025 | Gift Card Theft & Unlawful Business Entry. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Allen Chesser, Charles W. Miller, and Jeff Zenger | HB 272 | 03/04/2025 | The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Celeste C. Cairns, Charles W. Miller, and Donna McDowell White | HB 275 | 03/04/2025 | Failure to Yield Penalties. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Bill Ward, Charles W. Miller, and David Willis | HB 270 | 03/03/2025 | Revise Law on the Death Penalty. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, Jeffrey C. McNeely, and Todd Carver | HB 193 | 02/25/2025 | Firearm Law Revisions. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. and Charles W. Miller | HB 198 | 02/25/2025 | Amend Law on Notice of ABC Violation. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carolyn G. Logan, Carson Smith, and Laura Budd | HB 199 | 02/25/2025 | Nonconsensual Booting and Towing Reform. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Erin Paré, James Roberson, and Sarah Crawford | HB 137 | 02/17/2025 | Gabe Torres Act. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., John Sauls, Neal Jackson, and Paul Scott | HB 100 | 02/11/2025 | Expand Religious Property Tax Exemption. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Allen Chesser, Charles W. Miller, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 50 | 02/04/2025 | LEO Special Separation Allowance Options. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, Kelly E. Hastings, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 52 | 02/04/2025 | Protect Those Who Serve & Protect Act of 2025. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, Charles W. Miller, and Dudley Greene | HB 61 | 02/04/2025 | Assaults on First Responders. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Allen Chesser, Charles W. Miller, and Edward C. Goodwin | HB 38 | 02/03/2025 | Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, Charles W. Miller, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 42 | 02/03/2025 | Burglary & B&E/Sentence Enhancement. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, Charles W. Miller, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 28 | 01/30/2025 | Gun Violence Prevention Act. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. | HB 17 | 01/29/2025 | Various Local Election Changes. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and David Willis | HB 2 | 01/29/2025 | Entry Fees for Interscholastic Sports Events. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. and Charles W. Miller | HB 22 | 01/29/2025 | Fire Investigation Law Revisions. |
| A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. | HB 26 | 01/29/2025 | Various Local Provisions I. |
