Environment (Coastal & Flood Protection)

This bill establishes a temporary pause on new rules that would restrict commercial and recreational fishing in North Carolina's coastal waters. It directly affects fishermen, seafood businesses, and anglers by preventing state agencies from lowering catch limits, shortening seasons, closing fishing areas, or adding new reporting and gear restrictions. The legislation also stops any changes to existing harvest quotas and restores recreational fishing regulations to the standards that were in place on January 1, 2019. These measures remain in effect until the state completes a comprehensive study on its fisheries and reviews the findings. The only exceptions allow for regulatory changes required by federal laws or conditions attached to federal funding.

This bill removes the current prohibition on building hardened structures like seawalls and bulkheads along North Carolina's coast, allowing property owners and developers to construct them. Instead of an outright ban, the legislation requires the state Commission to create rules that permit these projects only if they do not cause significant harm to private property or public beaches, while also weighing the benefits of protecting homes and infrastructure. To support this change, the bill appropriates $850,000 for a university research group to update the state's coastal management plan, which will assess erosion risks and recommend maintenance schedules for inlets. The new regulations will take effect in September 2026, applying to any construction applications submitted on or after that date.

This bill, titled "Save Our Beaches," stops a specific rule that would have allowed the use of wheat straw bales for sand fencing in North Carolina's ocean hazard areas. By disapproving this rule, the legislation ensures that beach restoration projects in these zones cannot rely on this particular type of temporary barrier. The change directly affects coastal management agencies and contractors who might have planned to use wheat straw bales for erosion control. Ultimately, the bill leaves the decision of which materials are permitted for sand fencing to existing regulations rather than the new wheat straw provision.

SB 472 streamlines water quality permit reviews for specific projects in North Carolina, directly affecting developers of upland basin marinas, energy/fuel infrastructure, and maintenance dredging projects funded by certain state programs. It sets strict deadlines for the Department of Environmental Quality: requiring fee notifications within 5 business days, completeness reviews within 30 days, and final decisions within 10-15 days (or automatically waiving certification if deadlines are missed). The bill also clarifies that certain man-made ditches and upland basin marinas are not subject to coastal management regulations. These changes aim to accelerate project approvals while maintaining existing water quality standards. The bill is pending review and would take effect October 1, 2025.

SB 713 prevents North Carolina local governments (like cities and counties) from creating environmental rules stricter than state or federal law. It requires local ordinances to align with existing state/federal standards, unless the General Assembly specifically authorizes exceptions. Local governments must update all environmental rules by December 1, 2025, to comply, or those rules become invalid. The bill does not affect requirements needed to meet federal permits or National Flood Insurance Program conditions.

SB 734 clarifies that specific man-made ditches - such as roadside ditches, culverts, and storm channels - are excluded from North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA). The bill defines "man-made ditches" in Section 1 and explicitly removes them from CAMA's coverage of estuarine waters, environmental concern areas, and public trust rights under Sections 2, 3, and 4. This means landowners and developers maintaining these ditches will no longer require CAMA permits for them. The bill focuses on clarifying existing law rather than creating new regulations. It directly affects activities involving minor drainage features in coastal zones.