Bill > S713

This bill restricts local governments in North Carolina from creating environmental regulations that are more stringent than state or federal laws. Specifically, local governments (defined under G.S. 159-44) cannot enact, adopt, implement, or enforce environmental or natural resource ordinances that impose stricter standards than those already established by state or federal legislation, unless explicitly directed by the General Assembly. The bill does include some exceptions: local governments can still adopt requirements necessary to comply with federal or state law, meet permit conditions, or maintain participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. The legislation requires all local governments to review and amend their existing ordinances by December 1, 2025, to ensure compliance with this new restriction, and any non-compliant provisions will become automatically null and void after that date. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, and its primary purpose appears to be standardizing environmental regulations at the state level by preventing local jurisdictions from implementing more restrictive environmental protections.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S713