Bill > H684

This bill establishes a comprehensive Environmental Justice framework in North Carolina to address disproportionate environmental impacts on marginalized communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income populations. The bill creates an Environmental Justice Program within the Department of Environmental Quality that requires seven state agencies to consider cumulative environmental burdens and benefits when making decisions, develop community engagement plans, and submit annual reports detailing their efforts. It defines key terms like "environmental justice communities" using specific demographic thresholds, such as areas where nonwhite populations exceed 40% or communities with poverty rates over 20%. The bill establishes an 11-member Environmental Justice Advisory Council and a 9-member Interagency Environmental Justice Committee to provide guidance, review agency actions, and recommend policy improvements. By 2026, the covered agencies are expected to set a goal of directing investments proportionately to environmental justice communities and must publicly report on the geographic distribution and percentage of environmental benefits reaching these areas. The legislation aims to ensure that no population segment bears a disproportionate share of environmental burdens and that all individuals have meaningful participation in environmental decision-making processes, ultimately seeking to reduce health disparities and promote equitable access to environmental benefits.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H684