Transportation (Roads & Highways)

SB 61 prohibits tolls on North Carolina's Interstate 95 for ten years and requires the North Carolina General Assembly to approve any future tolling on this highway. The bill amends state law to explicitly exclude I-95 from tolling authority, preventing the state toll authority from collecting tolls during this period. After the ten-year ban, the General Assembly would need to vote to allow tolls, rather than the authority acting unilaterally. This directly affects drivers using I-95 and the state's process for managing highway funding.

HB 201 restricts the use of long trailers on specific segments of U.S. Route 25/70 in Madison County, North Carolina. It prohibits motor vehicle combinations exceeding 48 feet total length or trailers over 30 feet in length on two defined route sections: from NC Highway 213 north to NC Highway 208, and from NC Highway 208 west to the Tennessee border. This directly affects commercial truck drivers and logistics companies operating heavy vehicles in that corridor. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, with penalties matching existing traffic violation fines under state law.

HB 954 creates a State Critical Infrastructure and Construction Resiliency Fund to support disaster recovery and preparedness. It requires counties that experienced a Governor-declared Type I, II, or III disaster in the past three years to redirect 5% of their annual highway use tax revenue into the fund. The Governor can use these funds for new infrastructure projects and resiliency efforts in disaster-affected areas, as well as for state/local response activities following a federal disaster declaration under the Stafford Act. This directly affects eligible counties and their residents by providing dedicated resources for rebuilding and preventing future disaster impacts.

HB 822 modifies North Carolina laws governing moped operation, directly affecting moped operators. The bill presumes a moped is designed for one person unless manufacturer documentation indicates otherwise. It restricts mopeds to the right-hand side of the right-hand lane on highways with speed limits over 35 mph, except when preparing for a left turn. Furthermore, it prohibits operating a moped on any highway where the posted speed limit is greater than 35 miles per hour. Violations of these provisions would constitute an infraction, with the changes becoming effective on December 1, 2025.