Bill List 2017

UPDATED TO: 8/18/17

The 2017 session of the North Carolina General Assembly convened for an organizational session on January 11, 2017 and began regular sessions on January 25. The session adjourned on June 30. The legislature will return in August and in the fall to consider bills vetoed by the Governor, concurrence in bills adopted, conference reports, appointments, redistricting, and other specified topics. The regular short session to address budget adjustments and bills passed by one house in 2017 will convene on May 16, 2018.

The following is a list of bills related to planning, land use regulation, environment, transportation, and similar matters addressed in 2017. Where substantially similar or identical bills were filed in both houses and only one was adopted or passed the house of introduction, only that bill is listed.

Bills (other than those affecting revenues and appropriations) had to pass the house of introduction by April 27, 2017 for further consideration in 2018.

House bills are listed first, followed by Senate bills. The last action taken in each house is indicated. For bills that have become law, a session law chapter number is included in the last column. Abbreviations used in the table are:

"Comm. fav." indicates the bill has been reported out of a committee with a favorable recommendation, but no floor action was taken.
"Passed" indicates the bill passed third reading in the indicated house.
"Conf." indicates a conference committee has been appointed to reconcile differences in House and Senate versions of adopted bills.
"Ratif." indicates final General Assembly approval, pending action by Governor

Quick links to the bill texts are provided for some bills. Clicking on the underlined Bill Numbers in the far left column will take you to the General Assembly's detailed information on that bill (including sponsors, bill history, and votes). That site also has a link for the latest text of the bill. Clicking on the underlined Session Law numbers in the far right column will take you to a copy of the bill as enacted. Copies of the texts of all bills, and a detailed legislative history for each bill, can be obtained through the General Assembly's Bill Information web site.

Bill Number	Title/Short Description	House Action	Senate Action	Session Law
H. 3	Amend state constitution to limit use of eminent domain to acquisitions for public purposes	Passed
H. 10	Add statutory limits on use of eminent domain
H. 25	Allow planning board to hold hearing and make final decision on zoning map amendments, with appeals to governing board, applicable only in Randolph County and its municipalities	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-19
H. 31	Inclusion of property in unfunded transportation plan is not a material fact that must be disclosed in real estate transaction	Comm. fav.
H. 56	Amend environmental laws, including land use restrictions on underground storage tanks	Passed	Passed	Conf.
H. 89	Allow cities to transfer housing authority functions to COG	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-178
H. 92	Establish blue ribbon committee on transportation infrastructure funding	Passed
H. 109	Annex specified area into Fayetteville
H. 111	Allow Winston-Salem to recover costs on publication in housing code enforcement cases	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-20
H. 141	Allow cities and counties to require bonds for road maintenance prior to DOT acceptance into state system
H. 158	Allow cities and counties to use of private funds and special assessments for critical infrastructure, clarify use of subdivision performance guarantees	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-40
H. 173	Amend various provisions on outdoor advertising, including: increase state permit fees; revise compensation required for billboard removal; limit zoning enforcement and appeals regarding billboard relocation; liberalize permitted vegetative clearing
H. 205	Revise definitions and requirements for newspapers publishing public notices; allow Guilford County and its municipalities to substitute electronic for published notices of hearings	Passed	Passed	Vetoed
H. 219	Establish transportation megaproject fund
H. 232	Provide additional Main Street funding for poor counties
H. 244	Revise public participation requirements for solid waste composting permits, set minimum 500-foot buffer from sensitive uses	Passed
H. 252	Revise provisions of building code statute, including local governments preempted from requiring inspections on one and two family dwellings beyond state requirements; limit need for architect or engineer certification if manufacturer has certified components; require annual informal internal review of inspection decisions	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-130
H. 261	Allow special property tax rates for property zoned and used for residential purposes and later zoned for nonresidential use
H. 264	Limit present use value taxation for property occupied by solar farm
H. 271	Repeal plastic bags ban on Outer Banks areas
H. 275	Exempt runway and taxiway areas from stormwater utility fees	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-132
H. 292	Disapprove rules on Cape Fear reclassification and water quality management plan
H. 310	Revise provisions for regulation of wireless technology; limit local regulation of small wireless facilities	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-159
H. 319	Study solar facility de-commissioning requirements	Passed
H. 349	Allow Currituck County, with NCDOT agreement, to use developer funds to construct roads to connect subdivisions	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-49
H. 374	Various reforms, including extension of life of septic tank permits, revise stormwater rules by local governments	Comm. fav.
H. 376	Authorize use of funds received to be used as collateral for subdivision performance guarantees	Passed
H. 397	Deannex area from Carolina Shores; allow county participation in Wilmington downtown development project	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-86
H. 405	Require homebuilders who are refunded impact fees imposed without authority to reimburse homeowners who paid any portion of the fees as part of purchase price of home
H. 406	Repeal Orange County authority to impose impact fees	Passed	Passed	S.L 2017-36
H. 423	Provide checkoff for income tax donations for protection of land, water, and natural resources -- Conservation Grant Fund
H. 432	Revise standards for publication of legal ads, including allowing electronic notices
H. 436	Provide for uniform system of development fees for capital improvements for water and sewer service; set three year statute of limitations for recovery of past unlawful fees	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-138
H. 442	Abolish municipal extraterritorial planning and development regulation jurisdiction as of 1/1/18
H. 454	Revise survey and map requirements for plats	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-27
H. 457	Revise provisions for county subdivision performance guarantees for streets	Passed
H. 467	Clarify damages available for private nuisance actions regarding agriculture and forestry operations	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-11
H. 470	Substantially revise permitting for commercial wind energy facilities
H. 507	Modify provisions on permit choice rule when development regulations are amended; modify statutory vested rights; prohibit third party rezonings; revise provisions on judicial review of quasi-judicial zoning decisions; limit estoppel defense if conditions challenged; expand recovery of attorney fees; modify subdivision performance guarantee provisions; limit permit denials where there is inadequate infrastructure; limit building inspections; limit requirements for right of way acquisition	Passed
H. 509	Allow Davidson County to allow planning board to hear and decide rezonings, with appeal to board of commissioners	Passed	Comm. fav.
H. 528	Set time periods for DOT review of traffic impact analysis and decisions on driveway permits	Passed
H. 530	Modify county authority regarding condemnation of unsafe buildings	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-109
H. 557	Revise mitigation program
H. 561	Authorize sanitary districts to impose impact fees for maintenance and future system expansion
H. 572	Internet publication of legal notices
H. 573	Allow cities to apply to court for receiver to rehab, demolish, or sell vacant building if owner refuses to comply with order to do so
H. 574	Revise permitting for commercial wind energy, enhance military coordination	Comm. fav.
H. 578	Modify standards for selective vegetation removal for billboards
H. 579	Revise just compensation standards for removal of billboards	Comm. fav.
H. 580	Allow additional relocation and reconstruction of billboards	Comm. fav.
H. 581	Modify regulations and fees for billboards, including defining unzoned commercial and industrial areas, delete billboard maintenance limits, revise rules for billboard removal on all roads, revise provisions on modernization and relocation of billboards and vegetation removal, limit amortization of nonconforming billboards	Failed
H. 589	Comprehensive energy reforms, including provisions for decommissioning solar facilities, moratorium on wind facility permits until 12/31/20	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-192
H. 602	Allow cities to require performance guarantees when industrial property is demolished	Comm. fav.
H. 622	Periodic inspects for housing in low-population cities
H. 626	Allow zoning regulation of large-scale poultry farms
H. 632	Amend environmental mitigation requirements	Passed
H. 637	Clarify funding for regional water and sewer infrastructure funding	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-17
H. 642	Establish rebuttable presumption of proper use of land in zoning, establish clear and convincing evidence rule in quasi-judicial zoning proceedings
H. 668	Clarify that cities can enforce state laws on political signs on state roads within the city	Passed
H. 687	Amend coal ash regulations
H. 718	Study provision of water, sewer, public enterprises and fees and funding for it	Comm. fav.
H. 721	Limit purchase of coal mined by "mountain-top removal"
H. 722	Phase out hog lagoons
H. 794	Modifications for permitting efficiencies	Passed
H. 905	Reenact conservation tax credit
H. 911	Create private sector affordable housing program

S. 6	Annex specified parcels to Cornelius	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-70
S. 16	Regulatory reform bill, includes provisions on stromwater rules for redevelopment projects, study of sedimentation control programs	Passed	Passed	Vetoed
S. 35	Add statutory limits on use of eminent domain
S. 92	Allow cities and counties to require bonds for road maintenance prior to DOT acceptance into state system		Comm. fav.
S. 103	Annex specified area into Fayetteville
S. 105	Annex specified area to Fairmont, extend Troutman ETJ, deannex area from Garner	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-76
S. 107	Facilitate removal of obsolete dams	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-145
S. 122	Repeal charter for Centerville	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-43
S. 131	Regulatory reform for various environmental and local development regulation statutes, including: exclude landscaped walk and bikeways from "built upon" area; revise CRC rules on temporary erosion control structures update erosion rates near terminal groins; relax numerous reporting requirements; revise requirement for plan consistency statements for zoning amendments; define comprehensive plan to include UDO; revise subdivision exemptions; set various statutes of limitations for zoning enforcement actions; DEQ study riparian buffers	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-10
S. 156	Modify provisions re plumbing contractors	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-15
S. 219	Annex property into Indian Beach, specifies zoning for area, and declare all structures to be conforming to town zoning	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-51
S. 257	Budget for 2017-19	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-57
S. 260	Wake Forest annexation	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-47
S. 261	Deannex specified area from Kannapolis	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-84
S. 266	Annex specified area into Durham and Walkertown	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-80
S. 268	Allow city stormwater programs to include flood reduction techniques on private property
S. 279	Reduce property tax exclusion for solar energy facilities
S. 289	Deannex specified area from Sunset Beach and Kinston	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-85
S. 292	Decriminalize violations of city and county ordinances	Comm. fav.	Passed
S. 296	Process for road improvements near schools
S. 300	Allow inclusionary zoning in Durham city and county
S. 343	Revise standards for newspaper and electronic publication of hearing notices	Comm. fav.	Passed
S. 366	Substantially revise permitting for commercial wind energy facilities
S. 372	Revise survey and map requirements for plats
S. 373	Revise provisions for county subdivision performance guarantees for streets
S. 406	Limit sweepstakes machines to four per location
S. 419	Consolidate and reorganize statutes on planning and development regulation (160D proposal)		Passed
S. 434	Amend various environmental laws, including repeal plastic bag ban on Outer Banks; local riparian buffer limits		Passed
S. 435	Revise provisions for publication of legal notices
S. 460	Clarify damages available for private nuisance actions regarding agriculture and forestry operations
S. 469	Amend environmental laws, including standards for septic tanks	Comm. fav.	Passed
S. 533	Move mitigation program from DEQ to DOT, modify mitigation requirements
S. 539	Limit local government use of eminent domain to public uses, repeal ban on plastic bags on Outer Banks
S. 555	Authorize sanitary districts to impose impact fees for maintenance and future system expansion
S. 557	Establish process for municipal annexation of enclaves
S. 611	Revise mitigation program
S. 615	Revise laws affecting agriculture, including eliminate authority of counties to apply zoning to large scale hog farms, clarify agritourism exemption, clarify that only nonresidential buildings are exempt from building code	Passed	Passed	S.L. 2017-108
S. 642	Provide for de novo review of board of adjustment decisions and change burden of proof to clear and convincing evidence