New Laws Taking Effect In North Carolina

State lawmakers' work in the last session means several new laws will take effect starting today. Legislators say anyone who engages in an act of terrorism will be subject to state as well as federal penalties. Threatening to use explosives, dirty bombs and using violence to intimidate people and governments will be treated as a felony.

Lawmakers have also acted to further protect children from being sold or bought. A new provision adds fines of at least five thousand or 10-thousand dollars per offense. School officials will also have new protections. They cannot be charged for actions used to break up fights among students. But students can now be charged for using a computer to intimidate adults.