This bill establishes a two-year pause on issuing permits for new datacenters in North Carolina, which are defined as facilities with a power capacity of 100 megawatts or more. During this moratorium, a university research group will study the potential impacts of these facilities on the state's electricity grid, water supplies, air quality, and local property values. The legislation also requires datacenters to annually submit detailed financial and operational reports to the state to receive tax exemptions on their equipment purchases. Additionally, the Department of Commerce must report the total revenue lost to the state due to these tax breaks to the General Assembly.
This bill authorizes the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a special "Red Wolf" license plate for vehicle owners who wish to support the conservation of this native species. The plates will feature an image of a red wolf and carry an additional $30 fee, with specific portions of those funds directed to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for conservation, research, and habitat restoration efforts. To help launch the program, the state has appropriated $15,000 for plate design and production, while North Carolina State University is tasked with promoting the plate to its campus community and will report on its marketing efforts by September 2027.
SB 1030 expands North Carolina's Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income families by requiring health and safety improvements, such as better indoor air quality measures, alongside standard energy efficiency upgrades. The bill authorizes community-scale projects that target multiple homes in neighborhoods facing shared environmental or economic challenges, allowing local agencies and utilities to submit proposals for these initiatives. To fund these changes, the legislation appropriates $10 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with rules established to prioritize projects that maximize energy savings and address housing vulnerabilities.
This bill establishes a new fund to address water contamination from specific chemicals known as PFAS and 1,4-dioxane. It allocates $56 million for grants to local water and wastewater systems to help them monitor, treat, and clean up these contaminants, with priority given to areas already facing significant health or environmental risks. An additional $14 million is set aside for scientific research at the University of North Carolina to develop better detection and removal methods for these substances. The legislation also provides $25 million specifically to protect firefighters and their families by funding studies, temporary water supplies, and filtration systems for fire stations affected by these chemicals.
HB 1136 pauses new surface water transfers from the upper Cape Fear River Basin until June 1, 2030, while a university study evaluates the region's water supply and recommends future policy changes. The bill directs the North Carolina Collaboratory to assess water availability, environmental impacts, and economic fairness, with findings due by July 2029. Additionally, it strengthens the Environmental Management Commission's authority to order reductions to existing water withdrawals and pollution discharges if they harm public health or water resources.
This bill authorizes the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to create the First Broad River State Trail in Cleveland and Rutherford Counties. The trail would connect the river's headwaters in Golden Valley to its confluence with the Broad River, linking communities like Shelby and Zion while aiming to increase public access points. The legislation allows the state to use existing funds from various conservation sources to acquire land and develop the trail, rather than requiring new budget appropriations. Additionally, the bill allocates $25,000 in 2026-2027 for planning and public education efforts related to the project.
This North Carolina bill creates a joint program for the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Management Commission to use artificial intelligence tools when drafting and reviewing environmental permits. While the law encourages using AI to speed up routine tasks, it requires human staff to independently review and modify any AI-generated work before finalizing a permit decision. The legislation mandates transparency by requiring the department to publish details about the AI systems used and to inform applicants when AI assists in their permit processing. Additionally, the bill sets specific rules for data security and prohibits using applicant information to train third-party AI models without state authorization.
This North Carolina bill appropriates three million dollars to the Town of Ayden to address flash flooding issues. The funds are designated specifically for stormwater management projects within the Kennedy Estates subdivision. The money comes from the state General Fund and is allocated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 1063 establishes new regulations for large-scale data centers in North Carolina to protect utility customers and local resources. The law defines a large data center as a facility requiring 40 megawatts of electricity or consuming over a billion liters of water annually. Operators must obtain a certificate of operation and submit detailed disclosures regarding their energy and water usage before construction begins. Facilities are required to generate at least 25% of their power on-site using clean energy and pay full costs for any infrastructure upgrades needed to serve them. Additionally, the bill limits state and local incentives for these facilities to prevent shifting utility costs to residential and small business customers.
This bill aims to speed up the approval process for housing projects in North Carolina by simplifying environmental reviews and setting strict deadlines for state agencies. It allows small residential developments in existing zones to skip certain environmental documents and requires state departments to issue decisions within 60 days or face internal review. Additionally, the law creates a streamlined path for duplexes and small multi-family units in residential areas and mandates the creation of public dashboards to track permit processing times. The legislation includes funding for staffing support and explicitly states that it does not override local zoning authority or weaken environmental standards.
