HB 185 establishes the Transylvania Rural Development Authority as an independent body corporate and politic. This authority is tasked with rural development specifically within Transylvania County and operates separately from the county's board of commissioners. It will be governed by a nine-member board, with members who are residents of Transylvania County appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House. The bill outlines the authority's organization, staffing, and conflict-of-interest rules, and limits liability for other governmental entities regarding environmental issues on projects undertaken with the Authority.
HB 616 modifies the North Carolina Selectsite Readiness Program by establishing a competitive grant program and creating the North Carolina Selectsite Fund. It appropriates $10 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and transfers unspent funds to this new fund. The program, administered by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), provides grants to local governments or partnerships. These grants support the acquisition, due diligence, infrastructure development, and on-site preparation of industrial sites under 1,000 acres, aiming to attract major manufacturing opportunities to the state.
HB 782, titled "Civic Club Registration Plate Clarification," amends North Carolina law concerning special registration plates for civic organizations. The bill clarifies that a civic organization itself can obtain a special registration plate for a vehicle it owns, in addition to individual members. This applies to nationally recognized civic clubs, like Kiwanis or Rotary, whose member clubs in the state are tax-exempt. The bill maintains the requirement that at least 300 applications are needed for a specific civic club plate to be issued.
This bill clarifies the eligibility requirements for motorcycle registration in North Carolina. It updates the definition of "motorcycles" to explicitly include those designed or modified for both off-road and highway use, provided they meet specific engine size, speed, and highway equipment standards. The bill also ensures that these dual-purpose motorcycles are not denied registration by being classified as "utility vehicles." This change affects individuals seeking to register motorcycles intended for both on-road and off-road operation. The act will become effective on October 1, 2025.
House Bill 741 authorizes the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to issue "Military Veteran" special registration plates with a personalized background. The bill modifies the plate's design to specify that the name and insignia of the veteran's branch of service will appear on the left side. This change directly affects U.S. Military Veterans in North Carolina who are eligible for this special license plate. These personalized veteran plates will also be exempt from minimum application requirements typically needed for other special plates.
Senate Bill 576 redefines electric assisted bicycles into three distinct classes based on their motor assistance and speed capabilities. The bill permits e-bikes on most roadways and paths, but requires helmets for Class 3 e-bike riders and passengers. It also grants cities and counties the authority to regulate e-bike use within their jurisdictions, allowing them to restrict certain classes on specific paths, set speed limits, and require helmets for Class 1 or 2 e-bikes. Finally, the Department of Transportation is tasked with developing educational materials on e-bike safety.
SB 493 proposes several changes to land use regulations in North Carolina. The bill allows public schools to be located in areas zoned for commercial use, either by right or through a special use permit. It also eliminates the authority for cities to exercise planning and development regulation outside their corporate limits, known as extraterritorial jurisdiction. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that establishing one type of vested right on a property does not eliminate other existing use rights, and it sets limits on conditions local governments can impose for special use permits.
Senate Bill 207 amends North Carolina's littering law by creating a new "permissive rebuttable presumption." This presumption states that if discarded litter includes documents or objects clearly bearing a person's name, such as bank statements, utility bills, or prescription bottles, it suggests that person committed the offense. However, advertising, marketing, and campaign materials are specifically excluded from creating this presumption. This bill affects individuals accused of littering and provides a new mechanism for establishing culpability, while allowing the accused to present evidence to rebut the presumption. The changes are set to become effective on December 1, 2025.
SB 345 establishes a "team-based practice" model for Physician Assistants (PAs) in North Carolina. It defines specific requirements for medical practices to qualify as team-based settings, including physician ownership and participation in patient care design. PAs must meet extensive clinical experience criteria to practice in these settings, allowing them to operate with a modified supervision arrangement that emphasizes team collaboration rather than a named supervising physician in some contexts. However, physician supervision is still explicitly required for team-based PAs providing surgical or anesthesia services.
This bill provides local boards of education with a new alternative for setting their school calendars, directly affecting public schools and students. It allows schools to start as early as the Monday closest to August 19, provided fall and spring semesters have an equal number of instructional days, and end no later than the Friday before the last Monday in May. The bill also establishes stricter enforcement mechanisms, enabling the State Board of Education to investigate non-compliance and withhold central office administration funds from local boards that fail to follow calendar requirements. Additionally, it permits residents or businesses to file civil actions against non-compliant local boards, potentially leading to court-ordered remedies, attorney's fees, and civil penalties.
SB 357 expands and modernizes collaborative practice agreements between physicians and pharmacists. It allows licensed pharmacists, designated as "clinical pharmacist practitioners," to provide a broader range of "health care services" under a physician's supervision, including modifying drug dosages, ordering tests, and managing drug therapy for patients. These services must be conducted under specific, written collaborative practice agreements and adhere to rules set by the North Carolina Medical Board and Board of Pharmacy. The bill also permits therapeutic drug substitutions by pharmacists with physician authorization and allows for multi-provider collaborative agreements in institutional settings.
HB 866 requires courts to issue an "automatic order" when a claim for equitable distribution is filed by divorcing spouses. This order immediately prohibits both parties from selling, transferring, or hiding assets, incurring new unreasonable debts, or changing beneficiaries on insurance policies without mutual consent or a court order. It aims to preserve marital and children's assets and existing insurance coverage until a final division of property is determined. The Administrative Office of the Courts will develop a standard form for this automatic order.
