North Carolina House Bill 450 Threatens Access to Justice and Affordable Investigative Services

What is House Bill 450?

North Carolina lawmakers have introduced House Bill 450 (2025), a piece of legislation that—on the surface—claims to protect privacy. In reality, it threatens to strip licensed private investigators of a vital tool used to uncover abuse, prevent fraud, and keep vulnerable people safe and increases investigative costs, affecting only those less fortunate.

This bill would prohibit private investigators from using GPS tracking devices unless a search warrant is obtained. Here’s the problem: private investigators are not law enforcement, and we do not have the authority to seek or execute search warrants. This requirement is not only legally misguided—it’s functionally impossible.

Why this matters

GPS tracking is one of the most efficient and least intrusive tools available to licensed private investigators. It’s used in a wide variety of legitimate investigations:

• Child custody cases involving abuse or neglect concerns

• Infidelity cases where one spouse needs documentation to support legal proceedings

• Employee misconduct or fraud investigations for businesses

• Elder abuse investigations where physical surveillance might be inappropriate

When GPS tracking is removed from our toolbox, the only alternative is physical surveillance. That means investigators must follow subjects in person, around the clock—something that quickly becomes unaffordable for most people. The result? Only wealthy individuals will have access to effective investigations, and everyday families in crisis will be left without options.

Real impact: protecting vulnerable children

In custody investigations, we often work with families who suspect a child is in danger. A GPS tracker might allow us to determine if a parent is taking a child to dangerous locations, violating court orders, or abandoning the child with unfit caregivers. This can all be done discreetly, lawfully, and without endangering the investigator or escalating the situation.

House Bill 450 would remove that ability, replacing it with a system that makes surveillance slower, more expensive, and less effective.

Private investigators are not government agents

The Fourth Amendment limits government searches and seizures—not the actions of private citizens acting lawfully. Lawmakers sponsoring this bill are blurring that line and creating a standard that will leave private investigators with no realistic way to do their jobs. It’s worth noting: this bill was introduced without any consultation with licensed investigators or professional associations representing the field.

We urge lawmakers to reconsider

House Bill 450 doesn’t just affect investigators—it affects the people we serve: families, children, attorneys, and small businesses. We call on lawmakers to withdraw or amend this bill and open dialogue with professionals who understand the real-world consequences of these changes.

Take Action:

Contact the primary sponsors of HB 450 and let them know you oppose this bill:

Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.gov, Carson.Smith@ncleg.gov, Laura.Budd@ncleg.gov, Deb.Butler@ncleg.gov, Todd.Carver@ncleg.gov, Dudley.Greene@ncleg.gov, Ya.Liu@ncleg.gov, Charles.Miller@ncleg.gov, Reece.Pyrtle@ncleg.gov, Charles.Smith@ncleg.gov, Allen.Chesser@ncleg.gov, Cody.Huneycutt@ncleg.gov, Celeste.Cairns@ncleg.gov, Tricia.Cotham@ncleg.gov, Blair.Eddins@ncleg.gov, Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.gov, Frank.Iler@ncleg.gov, Jake.Johnson@ncleg.gov, Keith.Kidwell@ncleg.gov, Donnie.Loftis@ncleg.gov, Howard.Penny@ncleg.gov, Ray.Pickett@ncleg.gov, Harry.Warren@ncleg.gov

#StopHB450 #NoGPSBan #PrivateInvestigators #InvestigativeRights #ProtectTheVulnerable #NCPolitics #NCGA #GovernmentOverreach #CivilLiberties