A new bill filed by State Rep. Abe Jones in the North Carolina House seeks to permit civil claims for wrongful death or injury from medical malpractice occurring after March 1, 2020., according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 700 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘The Patients’ Restoration of Rights Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill permits patients or their representatives to file civil action claims for wrongful death or injuries resulting from medical malpractice by health care providers if the incidents occurred on or after March 1, 2020. Such claims can be pursued even if previously time-barred, provided the injuries were not directly caused by contracting COVID-19. The bill revives applicable claims under the General Statutes that may have been restricted under specific legal provisions. This temporary authorization is effective immediately upon enactment and remains valid for one year, allowing eligible claims to be filed within this period from the effective date.
Jones proposed another 13 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.
Jones graduated from Harvard University in 1974 with an AB and again in 1977 from Harvard Law School with a JD.
Jones, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 38th House district, replacing previous state representative Yvonne Lewis Holley.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abe Jones | HB 700 | 04/02/2025 | The Patients’ Restoration of Rights Act. |
| Abe Jones | HB 699 | 04/02/2025 | Sheriff’s Deputies/Dismissals. |
| Abe Jones, Garland E. Pierce, and Zack Hawkins | HB 726 | 04/02/2025 | Youth Mentoring & Academic Enhancement Comm. |
| Abe Jones, Beth Helfrich, Phil Rubin, and Tracy Clark | HB 643 | 04/01/2025 | Clarify Firearm Storage Law. |
| Abe Jones, Allen Buansi, Charles Smith, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 646 | 04/01/2025 | Const. Amend.: Remove Slavery as Punishment. |
| Abe Jones and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 585 | 03/31/2025 | Human Trafficking Reporting/Response System. |
| Abe Jones, Julia Greenfield, Marcia Morey, and Renée A. Price | HB 589 | 03/31/2025 | The Second Look Act. |
| Abe Jones, Becky Carney, Robert T. Reives, II, and Shelly Willingham | HB 604 | 03/31/2025 | Rural and Downtown Community Eco. Dev. Grants. |
| Abe Jones, Julia Greenfield, Sarah Crawford, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 467 | 03/20/2025 | Reenact Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. |
| Abe Jones, Robert T. Reives, II, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 446 | 03/18/2025 | Prohibition on Disclosing Booking Photographs. |
| Abe Jones, Charles Smith, Julie von Haefen, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 367 | 03/11/2025 | Provide Rape Kit Status Updates to Victims. |
| Abe Jones, Garland E. Pierce, Hugh Blackwell, and Marcia Morey | HB 335 | 03/06/2025 | Expand Emergency Judge Eligibility. |
| Abe Jones, Marcia Morey, Phil Rubin, and Tim Longest | HB 129 | 02/13/2025 | Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act. |
