Bill > S477

This bill makes various administrative and technical changes to the statutes governing the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR). The bill includes provisions that create new confidentiality protections for rare species and sensitive natural habitats, allowing the DNCR to withhold public information that could risk harm to these areas. It exempts the DNCR from standard rule-making procedures when developing visitor conduct standards for sites it manages. The bill authorizes the department to enter into longer-term leases (up to 50 years) for federal lands managed as state recreation areas like Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, and Kerr Lake. The legislation also updates historical publication procedures, modifying how governors' papers and colonial records are edited and published. Additionally, the bill makes statutory revisions related to the North Carolina Symphony, clarifying its organizational status, and expands provisions for free school group admissions to state-owned sites. The bill repeals some obsolete reporting requirements and makes technical corrections to various statutes, including updating references and removing outdated language. The changes are primarily administrative in nature, aimed at improving the operational efficiency and legal clarity of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S477