SB 1001 modifies North Carolina's coastal regulations to streamline permit processes and update requirements for specific marina projects. The bill clarifies that sending certified mail to adjacent landowners satisfies notice requirements for development permits, ensuring these applications are not delayed by non-responses. It also amends rules for upland basin marinas by allowing site-specific modeling to prove sufficient water flushing instead of mandating mechanical aeration, while simultaneously requiring financial bonds or set-aside funds to cover five years of maintenance costs. Additionally, the legislation expands the uses of the Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund to include the construction and repair of terminal groins for local governments that benefit public lands. Finally, the bill includes several technical corrections to existing statutes regarding vessel capacity definitions and policy goal references.
This bill imposes a $10 fee on every customer entering sexually oriented businesses in North Carolina that also hold an alcohol permit. The collected fees must be remitted quarterly to the Department of Revenue and deposited into a fund designated for sexual assault and rape crisis services. Businesses are required to keep daily records of customer counts without collecting personal names, and they must submit these records for audit upon request. The legislation aims to address secondary impacts on public health and safety by funding support services rather than targeting the businesses' expressive content.
HB 198 requires alcohol law enforcement officers to notify the permit holder (not just the employee) within five business days when a violation occurs on a licensed establishment's premises. This applies to both citations issued to employees and reports from other law enforcement agencies about violations of alcohol or related laws. The notice must be sent via email or certified mail and must identify the specific violation and the involved employee. The bill directly affects bars, restaurants, and other businesses holding alcohol permits in North Carolina by mandating clearer, faster communication about violations. It does not change enforcement powers but standardizes how permit holders receive violation notices.
HB 356 clarifies what insurance companies and agents can offer to customers without violating anti-rebate laws. The bill permits insurers and producers to provide certain value-added products or services, such as those aimed at loss mitigation, health, or financial wellness, at reduced or no cost, provided they meet specific criteria and relate to the insurance coverage. It also allows for non-cash gifts or services up to $250 per policy term and drawings or raffles with prizes up to $250, as long as these offers are not unfairly discriminatory and do not require the purchase or renewal of a policy. These changes directly affect insurance companies, agents, and their customers by defining new exceptions to prohibited trade practices.
This bill adds a new member to the General Statutes Commission of North Carolina, representing the High Point University School of Law. The amendment changes the commission's composition to include 14 members instead of 13, ensuring one seat is filled by an appointment from the dean of that specific law school. Appointments for this new seat will occur in odd-numbered years, with the initial term scheduled to begin in September 2026 and end in August 2029. The legislation affects the structure of the body responsible for reviewing and updating the state's legal code.
This bill requires proxy advisory firms in North Carolina to clearly disclose when their voting recommendations are not based on a written financial analysis of how the vote affects shareholder value. The law defines a "written financial analysis" as a document that evaluates both short-term and long-term financial impacts and explains the methods used to reach a conclusion. If a firm recommends against company management or uses default policies that oppose management without such an analysis, it must inform clients that the recommendation was not grounded in these financial evaluations. Additionally, the bill mandates that proxy advisors provide these disclosures to both shareholders and company directors to ensure transparency in the voting guidance process.
SB 1047, titled the Regulatory Reform Act of 2026, organizes and updates North Carolina's laws regarding Guaranteed Energy Savings Contracts (GESC) to provide regulatory relief for citizens. The bill primarily affects state and local governmental units by establishing a structured process for these contracts, which allow governments to pay for energy-saving upgrades based on actual savings rather than upfront costs. Key provisions require officials to publish requests for qualifications, select providers based on specific criteria like past performance and technical feasibility, and conduct independent audits to verify projected energy savings. Additionally, the legislation sets clear thresholds for terminating projects if the actual savings do not meet the guaranteed estimates, ensuring accountability in public spending.
SB 602 would temporarily allow owners of commercial buildings damaged by Hurricane Helene to rebuild using the same fire-rated windows that were in place before the storm, instead of upgrading to current building code standards. It applies only to downtown commercial structures in counties declared disaster areas by the federal government, where reconstruction is limited to restoring the building to its pre-storm condition without expansion. Owners must submit a signed affidavit confirming eligibility and acknowledging the risks of not using upgraded windows, and the exemption expires two years after the bill takes effect. This exemption specifically covers window requirements but does not affect other building code provisions.
This bill removes a specific restriction that previously limited the total size of satellite annexations for the Town of Weaverville to 10% of its primary area. By deleting Weaverville from a long list of municipalities exempt from this rule, the legislation allows the town to annex noncontiguous land beyond that 10% cap. The change directly affects the Town of Weaverville and its ability to expand its boundaries in a way that was previously prohibited.
HB 117 allows the towns of Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach to use revenue from on-street parking fees in the same way they currently use revenue from off-street parking facilities. This bill amends existing law (S.L. 2021-46) to explicitly include these towns in the rule governing parking fee usage, which previously applied only to Holden Beach, Sunset Beach, and Surf City. The change provides these towns with greater flexibility to allocate parking revenue for local needs without requiring new tax authority.
HB 34 creates a new criminal offense for stealing or misusing someone else's mail, directly affecting individuals who unlawfully take, control, or transfer mail intended for others. The bill defines "mail" broadly to include letters, packages, or valuable items sent to another person and prohibits two specific actions: stealing mail to deprive the owner, or transferring mail to benefit someone not entitled to it. Punishments range from a Class A1 misdemeanor for first-time, low-value thefts (under $200) to a Class D felony for repeat offenses or high-value thefts (over $2,000). This law, effective December 1, 2025, applies to offenses committed after that date.
HB 349 updates North Carolina's requirements for healthcare powers of attorney (POA) and advance health care directives (like living wills). It clarifies witness and notary rules to prevent conflicts of interest (e.g., prohibiting facility staff from witnessing), standardizes forms for easier use, and allows electronic filing of directives with the Secretary of State’s registry. The bill directly affects residents planning ahead for medical decisions, ensuring their chosen agents or instructions are legally recognized. Key changes include revised witness eligibility criteria, simplified form language, and a new online filing option to improve accessibility. The bill does not alter medical care standards but streamlines the legal process for end-of-life planning.
