Bill > S445

This bill, the Regulatory Reform Act of 2026, aims to provide regulatory relief by making several changes across various sectors in North Carolina. Key provisions include repealing certain record-keeping requirements for fisheries, moving Arbor Week from March to November, and increasing civil penalties for water theft, with specific penalties for interfering with water pipes. It also allows for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refills during declared emergencies under specific conditions, clarifies rules for noncommercial underground storage tank (UST) discharge risk assessments, and modifies how students can complete surveys associated with nationally norm-referenced college admissions tests, while also expanding the allowable uses of PESA (Personal Education Student Account) scholarships to include services from one-to-one classroom aides. The bill also adjusts the duration of vested rights for site-specific development plans, allows for alternate inspection methods for home power installations, and changes the performance guarantee options for driveway and encroachment projects. Additionally, it permits local governments to delegate zoning approval authority to planning boards in Winston-Salem, mandates residential use rights in certain commercial zoning districts, and requires local governments to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in residential areas. The bill also introduces a de novo review standard for agency rule interpretations in contested cases, prohibits local governments from mandating collective bargaining with labor organizations, exempts certain nonconforming signs from removal deadlines, reduces continuing education hours for used motor vehicle dealer license renewals, expands approved firearm safety courses, clarifies subpoena authority for the State Bureau of Investigation, allows temporary use of third-party vendors for criminal history record checks by local governments, increases fines for littering, and prohibits telephone solicitors from misrepresenting call origins.