State Rep. Phil Rubin has put forward a new bill in the North Carolina House designed to increase individuals’ opportunities to pursue legal action when their constitutional rights are violated, according to the North Carolina State House.
Designated as HB 1150 and submitted April 30 during the 2025 regular session, the bill is officially titled: ‘NC Constitutional Rights Act/Funds.’
The following summary outlines the measure’s main provisions as interpreted from the original bill text, with some clarifying details to aid understanding.
This proposal would establish the North Carolina Constitutional Rights Act, empowering any individual in the state to seek civil action against anyone who, under color of law, infringes their U.S. constitutional rights. Claims may be filed in specified counties, and successful plaintiffs could receive compensatory damages, injunctive or declaratory relief, and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. Defenses and immunities mirror those allowed under federal Section 1983. Actions must be initiated within three years. Current remedies remain available, the bill preserves state sovereign immunity, and severability is included. The measure would allocate $150,000 in one-time funding to the Department of Justice for public education for 2026-27, effective July 1, 2026; all other provisions take effect October 1, 2026.
Among the four legislators sponsoring this bill, Rubin introduced the most legislation (38 bills) in the 2025 regular session.
Legislation in North Carolina follows a multi-step process before it can become law. A bill is introduced, assigned to committee for consideration, and must be read three times in both legislative chambers. Any changes after passage in one chamber require both houses to approve the final language. Once both chambers agree, the governor has 10 days (or 30 days if the legislature is not in session) to sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature.
Further information about this and other bills is available here.
Rubin earned his JD from Duke University School of Law.
Rubin, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent House District 40, succeeding Joe John.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Rubin, Beth Helfrich, Brandon Lofton, and Vernetta Alston | HB 1150 | 04/30/2026 | NC Constitutional Rights Act/Funds. |
| Phil Rubin, Amanda P. Cook, Beth Helfrich, and Jordan Lopez | HB 1155 | 04/30/2026 | The People’s Right to Amend Act. |
| Phil Rubin, Carolyn G. Logan, James Roberson, and Laura Budd | HB 1164 | 04/30/2026 | NSF for Taxes Penalty Modification. |
| Phil Rubin, Frances Jackson, PhD, Lindsey Prather, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 1178 | 04/30/2026 | The NC Teacher Pay Competitiveness Act. |
| Phil Rubin, Becky Carney, Eric Ager, and Maria Cervania | HB 1179 | 04/30/2026 | Senior Property Tax Relief Modernization Act. |
| Phil Rubin and Maria Cervania | HB 1181 | 04/30/2026 | Property Tax Modifications. |
| Phil Rubin, Cynthia Ball, Rodney D. Pierce, and Tracy Clark | HB 1184 | 04/30/2026 | Voucher School Transparency Act. |
| Phil Rubin, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Allen Chesser, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 1186 | 04/30/2026 | Equipping Law Enf. for Better Drug Detection. |
| Phil Rubin, Laura Budd, and Ya Liu | HB 1206 | 04/30/2026 | Pregnant Workers Fairness Act/Funds. |
| Phil Rubin, Amanda P. Cook, Eric Ager, and Pricey Harrison | HB 1128 | 04/29/2026 | Arbor Week Reform. |
| Phil Rubin, Amanda P. Cook, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 1129 | 04/29/2026 | Balcony Solar. |
| Phil Rubin, Beth Helfrich, Carolyn G. Logan, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 1080 | 04/28/2026 | Public Safety Reinvestment Act. |
| Phil Rubin, Carolyn G. Logan, Renée A. Price, and Zack Hawkins | HB 1054 | 04/27/2026 | Gov’t Employee Raises & Retiree COLA. |
| Phil Rubin, Julia Greenfield, Laura Budd, and Marcia Morey | HB 1060 | 04/27/2026 | AG Investigations/Certain ICE & CBP Incidents. |
| Phil Rubin, Bryan Cohn, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 1046 | 04/23/2026 | NC Economic Progress and Well-Being. |
| Phil Rubin, Beth Helfrich, Brian Turner, and Sarah Crawford | HB 952 | 04/10/2025 | Comprehensive Capital for Childcare Expansion. |
| Phil Rubin, Deb Butler, Julia Greenfield, and Pricey Harrison | HB 867 | 04/09/2025 | Poultry Waste Management. |
| Phil Rubin and Allen Chesser | HB 868 | 04/09/2025 | Due Process in LEO Field Drug Testing. |
| Phil Rubin, Donna McDowell White, Donny Lambeth, and Maria Cervania | HB 802 | 04/07/2025 | Nicotine & Vaping Prevention in Schools. |
| Phil Rubin, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 815 | 04/07/2025 | Voucher School Accountability Act. |
| Phil Rubin, Cecil Brockman, Cynthia Ball, and Lindsey Prather | HB 816 | 04/07/2025 | Voucher School Transparency Act. |
| Phil Rubin, Abe Jones, Julia Greenfield, and Renée A. Price | HB 784 | 04/03/2025 | Prohibit Assault Weapons. |
| Phil Rubin, Allen Buansi, Bryan Cohn, and Shelly Willingham | HB 788 | 04/03/2025 | Fix Our Democracy. |
| Phil Rubin, Allison A. Dahle, Amber M. Baker, and Cynthia Ball | HB 691 | 04/02/2025 | Voter Protection and Reliance Act. |
| Phil Rubin, Eric Ager, Jordan Lopez, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 711 | 04/02/2025 | Recovery Support Via Revenue Stabilization. |
| Phil Rubin, Abe Jones, Beth Helfrich, and Tracy Clark | HB 643 | 04/01/2025 | Clarify Firearm Storage Law. |
| Phil Rubin, Brian Turner, Sarah Crawford, and Vernetta Alston | HB 668 | 04/01/2025 | NC Working Families Economic Relief Act. |
| Phil Rubin, Allen Buansi, Allison A. Dahle, and Amber M. Baker | HB 580 | 03/31/2025 | SBOE Legislative Changes.-AB |
| Phil Rubin, Jordan Lopez, Marcia Morey, and Tracy Clark | HB 583 | 03/31/2025 | Law Enforcement/Destroy Certain Firearms. |
| Phil Rubin, Brandon Lofton, Cynthia Ball, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 608 | 03/31/2025 | Protect Health and Gov’t Personnel Info. |
| Phil Rubin, Jordan Lopez, Pricey Harrison, and Tracy Clark | HB 545 | 03/26/2025 | Ban Ghost Guns & Undetectable Firearms. |
| Phil Rubin, Bryan Cohn, James Roberson, and Kanika Brown | HB 548 | 03/26/2025 | NC Economic Progress and Well-Being. |
| Phil Rubin, Jordan Lopez, Pricey Harrison, and Tracy Clark | HB 350 | 03/10/2025 | Report Lost/Stolen Firearm Within 24 Hours. |
| Phil Rubin, Matthew Winslow, Mike Schietzelt, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 360 | 03/10/2025 | Homeowner Protection Act. |
| Phil Rubin, Deb Butler, Jordan Lopez, and Mary Belk | HB 174 | 02/21/2025 | Marriage Equality Act. |
| Phil Rubin, Deb Butler, Jordan Lopez, and Mary Belk | HB 175 | 02/21/2025 | Const. Amend./Marriage Equality. |
| Phil Rubin, Abe Jones, Marcia Morey, and Tim Longest | HB 129 | 02/13/2025 | Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act. |
