Sen. Murdock files bill in North Carolina Senate to create task force on missing BIPOC women and girls

A new bill filed by State Sen. Natalie S. Murdock in the North Carolina Senate seeks to create a task force to address systemic issues related to missing BIPOC women and girls, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 560 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Taskforce on Missing BIPOC Women.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill establishes a Task Force on Missing Women and Girls who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to address the systemic issues leading to their disappearances. The task force will consist of eight members, including government officials and at-large members who represent impacted communities. Its duties include developing policy changes, increasing awareness, educating BIPOC communities, collecting data, and recommending safety measures. It will also identify locations contributing to abductions and create a statewide awareness campaign. The task force will seek public input and meet across multiple locations to enhance participation. It must submit a report with findings and recommendations within two years of the act’s enactment and will terminate three years after becoming law.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Murdock proposed the most bills (74) 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.

Murdock graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA.

Murdock, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2020 to represent the state’s 20th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Mickey Michaux.