Rep. Pyrtle files bill in North Carolina House to transfer missing persons center

A new bill filed by State Rep. Pyrtle seeks to consolidate missing persons functions under the State Highway Patrol to improve coordination and alert systems, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 698 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Center for Missing Persons to Highway Patrol.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill transfers the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons from the Department of Public Safety to the State Highway Patrol. It consolidates all functions, powers, duties, and obligations within the State Highway Patrol as a Type I transfer. The bill outlines amendments to the General Statutes, recodifying certain sections to reflect this organizational change. The bill defines roles and responsibilities within the Center for Missing Persons, emphasizing its purpose as a central repository for missing persons and missing children information. It revises the control and structure of the Center, places it under the direction of the State Highway Patrol Commander, and mandates the adoption of various rules and procedures. The bill also establishes several alert systems, including the AMBER Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, Missing Endangered Alert, Ashanti Alert, and Missing – Weather Alert, which facilitate the rapid dissemination of information concerning missing persons or children. The State Highway Patrol is tasked with adopting necessary rules and amendments to comply with the act, which becomes effective upon becoming law.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Charles W. Miller proposed the most bills (34) 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.