A new bill filed by State Sen. Michael A. Lazzara seeks to reduce fees for concealed handgun permits for veterans honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 118 on Feb. 18 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Reduce Veteran CCW Fee/Expand CCW Notice.’
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 reduce the fees for obtaining or renewing a concealed handgun permit for individuals honorably discharged or discharged under general honorable conditions from military service in the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill aligns the permit fees for these veterans with those of retired law enforcement officers, setting the application fee at $45 and the renewal fee at $40. Applicants must provide appropriate documentation, such as a Form DD-214 or a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Identification Card, to qualify for the reduced fees. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will apply to all relevant applications submitted on or after that date.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Lazzara proposed the most bills (eight) 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.
Lazzara, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2021 to represent the state’s 6th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Harry Brown.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael A. Lazzara, Vickie Sawyer, and Warren Daniel | SB 118 | 02/18/2025 | Reduce Veteran CCW Fee/Expand CCW Notice. |
| Michael A. Lazzara | SB 106 | 02/17/2025 | Funds/Onslow Water and Sewer Authority. |
| Michael A. Lazzara, Benton G. Sawrey, and Michael V. Lee | SB 109 | 02/17/2025 | Veterans Appreciation Act. |
| Michael A. Lazzara, Eddie D. Settle, and Vickie Sawyer | SB 113 | 02/17/2025 | Removal of Squatters from Private Property. |
| Michael A. Lazzara, Eddie D. Settle, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 71 | 02/11/2025 | Expedited Removal of Unauthorized Persons. |
| Michael A. Lazzara | SB 73 | 02/11/2025 | Richlands Occupancy Tax Authorization. |
| Michael A. Lazzara, Bill Rabon, and Vickie Sawyer | SB 63 | 02/06/2025 | Board of Motor Vehicles/Authority Study. |
| Michael A. Lazzara | SB 29 | 01/30/2025 | Onslow – Delegate Rezoning Authority. |
