Bill > H77

This bill introduces comprehensive environmental justice provisions that require state agencies to consider the cumulative impact of proposed environmental and development actions on minority and low-income communities. Specifically, the bill mandates that when evaluating permits for mining, solid waste management, hazardous waste facilities, air contaminant sources, and other environmental projects, state departments and commissions must assess whether the proposed action would have a disproportionate adverse impact on communities protected under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The bill defines an "overburdened community" as a census block where at least 30% of households are low-income or which is a geographically distinct area of color, and requires enhanced public participation for such communities, including mandatory public hearings with 60 days' advance notice in the affected community and detailed responses to community input. The bill provides specific definitions for terms like "community of color" and "low-income household" and explicitly includes public health impacts in the assessment of adverse effects. All provisions of the bill will become effective on July 1, 2025, and will apply to pending permit applications and environmental documents at that time, representing a significant expansion of environmental justice considerations in North Carolina's regulatory processes.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H77