Environment (Conservation) in North Carolina

in committee · North Carolina · House May 4, 2026

HB 1157: Red Wolf Special Registration Plate.

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.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 819: Authorize First Broad River State Trail.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation

passed · North Carolina · Senate Jun 2, 2025

SB 697: Lake Norman Marine Commission.

SB 697 establishes the Lake Norman Marine Commission to oversee recreational and environmental management of Lake Norman. The bill would create a formal body responsible for coordinating activities related to the lake's waterways, boating access, and conservation efforts. Currently, the bill is pending in the State and Local Government committee after being withdrawn from Rules and Operations. It has passed its first reading but has not advanced further in the legislative process.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation

signed · North Carolina · House Jul 8, 2026

HB 747: 2026 Wildlife Resources Changes.

HB 747 updates North Carolina's wildlife laws with three key changes. It requires the Wildlife Resources Commission to keep personal information (like addresses and email) and details about rare species habitats confidential to prevent harm or theft. The bill also creates two new license plates - “Wildlife Resources” (requiring 300+ applications before development) and “Lifetime Conservationist” - with sales revenue funding conservation accounts. Additionally, it shortens the out-of-state boat number reciprocity period from 90 to 60 days and adds safety rules for personal watercraft, including mandatory Coast Guard-approved life jackets and restrictions on close following. These changes affect the Commission, vehicle owners, and boaters, effective October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

passed · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 382: Elk Permit Auction/Raffle.

HB 382 allows North Carolina's Wildlife Resources Commission to issue elk hunting permits through a raffle and an auction for the 2026 season. Residents can enter a $20-per-ticket raffle (max 30 tickets for $500), while a nonprofit focused on elk conservation must conduct an auction where the nonprofit keeps ≤25% of proceeds, with all other funds going to elk conservation. Permits are nontransferable, and the Commission must reserve 50% of raffle permits for North Carolina residents in future seasons. All revenue supplements existing elk management funding, and the Commission must report annually on program effectiveness to legislative committees.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 253: Restore Down-Zoning/Farmland and Floodplain.

HB 253 restores Henderson County's authority to implement down-zoning (reducing development density or permitted land uses) with a key exception: it requires written consent from all affected property owners unless the down-zoning serves farmland preservation in agricultural districts or floodplain mitigation in FEMA-designated flood areas. The bill directly affects Henderson County property owners and local government officials, limiting down-zoning actions without consent except for these two specific purposes. It applies only to Henderson County, including its municipalities, and takes effect retroactively to December 11, 2024, to revert zoning changes made after that date under previous law. The bill defines "down-zoning" as decreasing density, reducing permitted uses, or creating nonconformities on land.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SB 137: Restore Down-Zoning/Farmland Preservation.

SB 137 requires written consent from all property owners for any zoning change that reduces development density or permitted land uses (down-zoning), except when local governments initiate down-zoning specifically for farmland preservation. It directly affects property owners in Henderson County and specific towns within the county (Fletcher, Mills River, Flat Rock, Laurel Park, and Saluda) by giving them veto power over most down-zoning proposals. The key mechanism is the consent requirement, with the exception allowing local governments to protect farmland without owner approval. This bill applies retroactively to January 31, 2025, and modifies existing zoning law to prioritize property owner consent in zoning decisions.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Landlords Property Development Zoning

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 5, 2025

HB 273: Create/Fund Brushy Mountains State Natural Area.

HB 273 creates the Brushy Mountains State Natural Area (BMSNA) in Alexander, Caldwell, and Wilkes counties, adding it to North Carolina's state parks system. The bill appropriates $500,000 total ($250,000 one-time and $250,000 annual) from the General Fund for initial land acquisition, site development, and operating costs at BMSNA, using existing funding sources like the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This directly affects residents and visitors in those three counties by establishing a new protected natural area. The funding becomes effective July 1, 2025, for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics State Budget Conservation Parks & Recreation

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 345: Rights of Nature/Certain River Basins.

HB 345 recognizes legal rights for the Dan and Haw River ecosystems in North Carolina, granting them the right to exist, flourish, and maintain natural functions like clean water and biodiversity. It directly affects these specific river watersheds - including all species, tributaries, and dependent ecosystems - and requires state environmental agencies (DEQ, DNR, Wildlife Commission) to protect these rights. The bill establishes that the rivers possess inherent rights to natural water flow, restoration, and freedom from pollution, shifting legal focus from merely regulating human activity to upholding the rivers' ecological health as a legal priority.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality Wildlife

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 555: Wetlands Protection and Restoration Act.

SB 555 establishes a $15 million Wetlands Restoration and Protection Fund to support wetland conservation in North Carolina. The bill allocates $5 million specifically for monitoring and research, and directs the Department of Environmental Quality to fund restoration projects, land protection agreements, public education, and enforcement of wetland laws. It directly affects landowners near wetlands and environmental programs by redefining "isolated wetlands" using pre-2020 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determinations and the 2010 North Carolina Wetland Assessment Manual, restoring protections lost under the *Sackett v. EPA* Supreme Court decision. The bill requires annual reports to legislators detailing fund usage, project outcomes, and research findings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

All environment bills