HB 1047 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

North Carolina Microplastics Study Act.

HB 1047, the North Carolina Microplastics Study Act, directs the North Carolina Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study the presence and impacts of microplastics in the state's waterways. Funded with $150,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the bill requires the Collaboratory to identify plastic particles, assess their environmental and health risks, and develop strategies to prevent future pollution and reverse existing harm. The Collaboratory must work with state agencies and stakeholders to create a prioritized research plan and standardized detection methods, ultimately submitting a comprehensive report with findings and policy recommendations by July 1, 2027.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Apr 27, 2026 Last action Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Filed → Edition 1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted with updated session dates and sponsor information, while a substantive change was introduced to the study's scope by removing a clause that required the investigation of specific environmental impact pathways. This shift moves the bill from a comprehensive mandate to analyze how plastic particles affect the environment to a narrower focus on characterizing the particles themselves and their sources.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing a requirement to investigate the specific pathways of environmental impacts, limiting the study to particle characterization and source identification rather than impact analysis.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for the study to investigate the sources and relative importance of pathways associated with environmental impacts of plastic particles.

TECHNICAL

Added updated session dates (April 28, 2026) and expanded the list of primary sponsors.

Changed the bill identifier from a draft code (DRH40650-NPa-28) to the official edition identifier (H1047-v-1).

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 28, 2026

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 25 co-sponsors