Bill > S555

This bill establishes the Wetlands Restoration and Protection Fund with $15 million in recurring funds for fiscal year 2025-2026, administered by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. The fund will support wetland restoration projects, conservation easement acquisitions, public awareness campaigns about wetland importance, and enforcement of wetland protection laws, particularly in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's Sackett v. EPA decision, which reduced federal wetland protections. An additional $5 million is designated for wetland monitoring and research, with the Department required to collaborate with stakeholders and research institutions to assess wetland health and ecological value. The bill also modifies state law to define "isolated wetlands" and expand the legal definition of "waters" and "wetlands" to include certain previously unprotected water bodies, ensuring continued environmental protection at the state level. The Department must submit annual reports to legislative oversight committees detailing fund usage, recipients, project progress, and research findings, with the first report due by September 1, 2026. Most provisions will take effect on July 1, 2025, with some immediate implementation upon becoming law.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S555