Bill > S59

This bill revises laws governing Voluntary Agricultural Districts by modifying the process for condemning farmland. Specifically, the bill changes existing law to require (rather than simply allowing) that before condemning land in a voluntary agricultural district, a public agency must request a local agricultural advisory board to hold a public hearing. The bill extends the timeframe for the advisory board to hold this hearing from 30 to 45 days and mandates that the agency cannot initiate a condemnation action until 120 days after receiving the board's findings and recommendations. The key changes strengthen public participation in land use decisions by ensuring a more robust review process before farmland can be condemned, giving the agricultural advisory board more time to evaluate and provide recommendations, and preventing immediate condemnation actions. The bill will take effect on October 1, 2025, and will apply to condemnation actions initiated by state or local agencies on or after that date.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S59