The North Carolina House is considering a bill put forward by State Rep. Allen Buansi that would simplify the process for domestic violence survivors to obtain an absolute divorce, according to the North Carolina State House.
Filed as HB 1070 on April 28 during the 2025 regular session, the bill’s short title is: ‘Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act.’
Below is a summary based on the actual bill text; some interpretation has been included to clarify key sections.
Specifically, the legislation proposes changes to North Carolina’s divorce law so a spouse who is a domestic violence victim can get an absolute divorce without meeting the one-year separation requirement, if the abusive spouse is responsible for the violence. A divorce could be granted if there is a protective order with specific findings, a conviction related to domestic violence, or a judge’s order after an evidentiary hearing that may weigh records from law enforcement, agencies, domestic violence programs, or health professionals. The bill allocates $50,000 in one-time funding for the 2026-27 fiscal year to the Compass Center to assist domestic violence survivors and applies to cases filed on or after the law’s effective date.
Among the four sponsors, Buansi submitted the highest number of bills, proposing 29 during the 2025 regular session.
North Carolina bills follow a multi-phase journey before passage. Legislation begins with a lawmaker filing a bill, after which it goes to a committee for review. The proposal must be read three times in both chambers. If amendments are made by one chamber after the other has passed the bill, both sides must agree on the final version. Once both chambers pass identical text, it heads to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 days if the legislature is out of session) to sign, veto, or let the measure become law without a signature.
Learn more about this and other measures here.
Buansi earned a BA from Dartmouth College in 2009 and a JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2015.
Buansi, a Democrat, began serving the 56th House district in 2022, taking over from former representative Verla Insko.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Buansi, Brian Turner, Charles Smith, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 1070 | 04/28/2026 | Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act. |
| Allen Buansi, Amber M. Baker, Lindsey Prather, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 1073 | 04/28/2026 | Fair Share for Public Schools Act. |
| Allen Buansi, Dante Pittman, Lindsey Prather, and Tim Longest | HB 1082 | 04/28/2026 | Tax Relief for Working Families Act. |
| Allen Buansi, Bill Ward, and Tim Longest | HB 1085 | 04/28/2026 | Improve Cable Service Complaint Resolutions. |
| Allen Buansi, Kanika Brown, Lindsey Prather, and Tim Longest | HB 1059 | 04/27/2026 | Fair Minimum Wage Act. |
| Allen Buansi, Amos L. Quick, III, James Roberson, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 1031 | 04/21/2026 | Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch. |
| Allen Buansi, Harry Warren, Tim Longest, and Zack Hawkins | HB 931 | 04/10/2025 | End Predatory Towing Fees and Practices. |
| Allen Buansi and Brian Turner | HB 942 | 04/10/2025 | Funds to Support Survivors. |
| Allen Buansi, Carla D. Cunningham, Ray Pickett, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 796 | 04/07/2025 | The Student Mental Health Line Awareness Act. |
| Allen Buansi, Bryan Cohn, Phil Rubin, and Shelly Willingham | HB 788 | 04/03/2025 | Fix Our Democracy. |
| Allen Buansi, Carla D. Cunningham, Donnie Loftis, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 790 | 04/03/2025 | Prohibit Vape/Tobacco Shops Near Schools. |
| Allen Buansi, Amos L. Quick, III, Cecil Brockman, and Ya Liu | HB 713 | 04/02/2025 | Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch. |
| Allen Buansi, Cecil Brockman, Charles Smith, and Vernetta Alston | HB 722 | 04/02/2025 | Enact Criminal Justice Debt Reform. |
| Allen Buansi, Donna McDowell White, Renée A. Price, and Sarah Crawford | HB 743 | 04/02/2025 | Allow Live-In DSPs in Group Homes. |
| Allen Buansi, Gloristine Brown, Terry M. Brown Jr., and Tracy Clark | HB 641 | 04/01/2025 | Transportation for the Future Act. |
| Allen Buansi, Abe Jones, Charles Smith, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 646 | 04/01/2025 | Const. Amend.: Remove Slavery as Punishment. |
| Allen Buansi, Lindsey Prather, and Maria Cervania | HB 667 | 04/01/2025 | Reduce Barriers to College Completion. |
| Allen Buansi, Allison A. Dahle, Amber M. Baker, and Phil Rubin | HB 580 | 03/31/2025 | SBOE Legislative Changes.-AB |
| Allen Buansi, Frank Iler, Renée A. Price, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 513 | 03/25/2025 | Strengthen Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. |
| Allen Buansi, Julia Greenfield, Julie von Haefen, and Mike Colvin | HB 456 | 03/19/2025 | No Surprises for Ambulance Services Act. |
| Allen Buansi, Becky Carney, Carla D. Cunningham, and Mary Belk | HB 460 | 03/19/2025 | Medical Equipment Right to Repair Act. |
| Allen Buansi, B. Ray Jeffers, Renée A. Price, and Zack Hawkins | HB 416 | 03/17/2025 | Funds for Boys & Girls Clubs. |
| Allen Buansi, Eric Ager, Gloristine Brown, and Jordan Lopez | HB 404 | 03/13/2025 | Fair & Affordable Housing Act. |
| Allen Buansi and Renée A. Price | HB 391 | 03/12/2025 | More APS Staff to Address Elder Abuse. |
| Allen Buansi, Gloristine Brown, Lindsey Prather, and Tim Longest | HB 181 | 02/24/2025 | Tax Relief for Working Families Act. |
| Allen Buansi, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Heather H. Rhyne, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 145 | 02/17/2025 | Funds for Diabetes Research Institute/UNC-CH. |
| Allen Buansi, Pricey Harrison, Renée A. Price, and Tim Longest | HB 131 | 02/13/2025 | Reenact Solar Energy Tax Credit. |
| Allen Buansi, Allen Chesser, Jarrod Lowery, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 93 | 02/10/2025 | Constitutional Amendment/Repeal Literacy Test. |
| Allen Buansi and Renée A. Price | HB 51 | 02/04/2025 | SchCalFlex/Orange,CH-Car,Caswell/CC & Assmnts. |
