A new bill filed by State Rep. Amber M. Baker in the North Carolina House seeks to strengthen penalties for sexual battery and stalking offenses involving elected officials abusing power, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 1008 on April 15 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Stalking/Enhanced Penalties.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill seeks to enhance penalties for sexual battery and stalking offenses involving local government elected officials as perpetrators, when the victim is either a fellow governing board member or a subordinate employee. Under the bill, an elected official who commits sexual battery under these circumstances would face charges elevated from a Class A1 misdemeanor to a Class H felony. Similarly, stalking committed by a public official against a fellow board member or employee is reclassified as a Class H felony, rather than the standard penalties applied in other contexts. The bill aims to address issues of power abuse within local government settings. The effective date of the act is Dec. 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed from that date onwards.
Baker proposed another 17 bills 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.
Baker graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a BS.
Baker, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 72nd House district, replacing previous state representative Derwin Montgomery.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amber M. Baker | HB 1008 | 04/15/2025 | Stalking/Enhanced Penalties. |
| Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, Julie von Haefen, and Zack Hawkins | HB 910 | 04/10/2025 | DRIVE Recommendations/Teacher Diversity. |
| Amber M. Baker, Bill Ward, and Zack Hawkins | HB 957 | 04/10/2025 | HBCU/HMSI Omnibus. |
| Amber M. Baker and Kanika Brown | HB 995 | 04/10/2025 | Shotgun House Funding Act. |
| Amber M. Baker, Brian Turner, Julia Greenfield, and Tim Longest | HB 798 | 04/07/2025 | Expand Access to Cold Weather Shelters/Funds. |
| Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 807 | 04/07/2025 | Strong Public Schools for a Strong NC. |
| Amber M. Baker, Allison A. Dahle, Cynthia Ball, and Phil Rubin | HB 691 | 04/02/2025 | Voter Protection and Reliance Act. |
| Amber M. Baker, Cecil Brockman, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 709 | 04/02/2025 | K-3 Literacy and Improvement Act. |
| Amber M. Baker, B. Ray Jeffers, James Roberson, and Zack Hawkins | HB 639 | 04/01/2025 | Prioritize In-State Applicants/UNC Ed Schools. |
| Amber M. Baker, Allen Buansi, Allison A. Dahle, and Phil Rubin | HB 580 | 03/31/2025 | SBOE Legislative Changes.-AB |
| Amber M. Baker, Cynthia Ball, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 588 | 03/31/2025 | School Psychologist Omnibus. |
| Amber M. Baker, Dante Pittman, Julie von Haefen, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 521 | 03/26/2025 | Healthy Families & Workplaces/Paid Sick Leave. |
| Amber M. Baker and Kanika Brown | HB 392 | 03/13/2025 | Funds/Forsyth United Way/Summer Learning. |
| Amber M. Baker and Kanika Brown | HB 393 | 03/13/2025 | Funds for One Love Festival. |
| Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 325 | 03/06/2025 | Legislative Building Field Trip Pilot Program. |
| Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 340 | 03/06/2025 | Universal AIG Screening in Middle Schools. |
| Amber M. Baker, Carolyn G. Logan, and James Roberson | HB 249 | 02/27/2025 | Diversity in Pickleball Pilot Program. |
| Amber M. Baker, Carolyn G. Logan, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 168 | 02/21/2025 | North Carolina CROWN Act. |
