REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2021.

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View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 366 (Public) Filed Tuesday, March 23, 2021
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FURTHER REGULATORY RELIEF TO THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Intro. by Yarborough, Bradford, Moffitt, Riddell.

Status: Ch. SL 2021-117 (Aug 23 2021)

Bill History:

H 366/S.L. 2021-117

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Aug 24 2021 - View Summary

    AN ACT TO PROVIDE FURTHER REGULATORY RELIEF TO THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA. SL 2021-117. Enacted Aug. 23, 2021. Effective Aug. 23, 2021, except as otherwise provided.


  • Summary date: Jul 21 2021 - View Summary

    Senate amendments make the following changes to the 4th edition.

    Amendment #1 does the following.

    Section 4

    Changes the effective date of the proposed changes to GS 159G-23, regarding priority consideration for loans or grants from the Wastewater Reserve or the Drinking Water Reserve, from August 1, 2021, to September 1, 2021. 

    Sections 9 and 10

    Deletes the content of previous Section 9, which amended GS 42-46 regarding authorized late fees and eviction fees in residential rental agreements, and Section 10, which enacted GS 42-14.5 and amended GS 42-39 and GS 72-1 regarding transient occupancies.

    Section 12

    Changes the effective date of the proposed changes to GS 18B-800, GS 18B-1001, and GS 18B-1105, as well as the directive to the ABC Commission to amend its rules consistent with the proposed changes, to September 1, 2021 (was, August 1, 2021).

    Amendment #2 does the following.

    Section 8A

    Revises new GS 58-1-2 to deem secondary sources on insurance not authoritative on the law or public policy of the State. Makes changes to refer to secondary sources rather than a statement or restatement of law throughout.

    Amendment #3 adds new Section 12.5 as follows.

    Amends GS 143-139 to add to the duties of the Insurance Commissioner the duty to develop eligibility criteria for and procedures to conduct certain inspections required by the State Building Code as remote inspections, defined as an inspection of the manner of construction for Code compliance that an inspector conducts by either interactive real-time audio and video communication with a permit holder, or a review of an electronic video recording submission by a permit holder. Makes conforming changes to GS 160D-1104 to refer to an inspection rather than an inspection visit. 

    Effective January 1, 2022, enacts GS 160D-1104.1 to require inspection departments to implement remote inspection procedures in accordance with the criteria and procedures developed by the Insurance Commissioner. Requires inspection departments to provide the option to elect remote inspections for a project to a building permit applicant, and to specify the extent to which a project is eligible for remote inspections at the time of building permit issuance. 


  • Summary date: Jun 29 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 3rd edition makes the following changes.

    Section 4

    Changes the effective date of the proposed changes to GS 159G-23, regarding priority consideration for loans or grants from the Wastewater Reserve or the Drinking Water Reserve, from July 1, 2021, to August 1, 2021.

    Section 8A

    Adds new Section 8A. Enacts GS 58-1-2, providing that a statement or restatement of the law of insurance in any legal treatise, scholarly publication, textbook, or other explanatory text does not constitute the law or public policy of the State. Adds that such text is not authoritative if the statement or restatement of the law purports to create, eliminate, expand, or restrict a cause of action, right, or remedy, or if it conflicts with the federal or State constitutions, or North Carolina statutory, case law, or common law.

    Section 8B

    Adds new Section 8B. Amends GS 58-58-61, the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Individual Deferred Annuities. Revises the specifications provided in determining the annual interest rate for nonforfeiture amounts, making the determination to be the lesser of 3% per annum and the determined interest guarantee resulting from specified parameters provided, now including that the resulting interest guarantee cannot be less than 0.15% (was 1%).

    Section 12

    Revises the proposed changes to GS 18B-1105(a)(2), clarifying that the new provisions allows distillery permittees to sell, deliver, and ship spirituous liquor in closed containers at wholesale or retail to consumers in other states or nations, subject to the laws of those jurisdictions. 

    Changes the effective date of the proposed changes to GS 18B-800, GS 18B-1001, and GS 18B-1105, as well as the directive to the ABC Commission to amend its rules consistent with the proposed changes, to August 1, 2021 (was July 1, 2021).

    Section 12A

    Adds new Section 12A. Amends GS 130A-336.1(j), concerning required post-construction conferences between the professional engineer designing the wastewater system and the owner of the wastewater system, the licensed soil scientist or licensed geologist, the certified on-site wastewater system contractor, the certified operator of the system, and representatives from the local health department and the Department of Health and Human Services, as applicable. Allows for waiver of the required conference for Type I, II, and III wastewater systems, as listed in specified administrative rule, upon written request by the professional engineer and written approval by the owner of the wastewater system.

    Section 12.1

    Adds new Section 12.1. Amends GS 130A-343, regarding the approval of on-site subsurface wastewater systems. Adds to the statute's defined terms prefabricated permeable block panel system, defined, among other things, to be a unit of rigid design, constructed and installed to withstand load requirements without collapse, compression, or deflection.


  • Summary date: Apr 20 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.

    Section 1

    Further amends GS 14-234, which prohibits specified public officials from benefiting from public contracts, with exceptions. Amends the exception provided in subsection (d1), expanding the exception by increasing the threshold to trigger applicability of the statute's prohibitions to include the specified public officials of villages, towns, and cities having a population of no more than 20,000 (was 15,000), so long as the existing specified criteria are met. 

    Section 10

    Revises the proposed changes to GS 72-1 to include recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds in the types of lodging an innkeeper must provide suitable accommodations for persons accepted as guests. Includes rental of an accommodation in a recreational vehicle park or campground to the same guest or occupant for fewer than 90 consecutive days in the newly defined term transient occupancy. Makes technical changes to the Section.

    Section 12

    Eliminates the proposed changes to GS 130A-343(j) regarding approval of a wastewater system using expanded polystyrene synthetic aggregate particles as a septic effluent dispersal medium.


  • Summary date: Mar 25 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

    Amends proposed GS 160D-910(g) to authorize local governments (was, cities) to require by ordinance that manufactured homes be installed in compliance with the Set-Up and Installation Standards adopted by the Commissioner of Insurance, so long as the local government (was, city) does not require a masonry curtain wall or skirting for manufactured homes located on land leased to the homeowner. 

    Deletes Section 10 of the act, which enacted GS 42-36.1B to provide for relief from a judgment for possession following a tenant's fulfillment of all terms of a post-judgment relief agreement with the landlord. Makes conforming organizational changes.

    Amends GS 42-39 by deleting the provision that excluded transient occupancy in a hotel, motel, or similar lodging subject to regulation by the Commission for Public Health from the provisions of Article 5, Residential Rental Agreements.

    Amends GS 18B-1105 by adding that the holder of a distillery permit may not sell, deliver, or ship spirituous liquor at retail to consumers in jurisdictions that require reciprocity in order to allow such sales, deliveries, or shipments.

    Makes additional clarifying changes.


  • Summary date: Mar 23 2021 - View Summary

    Section 1

    Amends GS 14-234, which prohibits specified public officials from benefiting from public contracts, with exceptions. Amends the exception provided in subsection (d1) to allow a municipality or specified type of board or hospital to undertake or contract with one of its officials if approved by specific resolution of the appropriate governing body and the undertaking or contract amount does not exceed $60,000, rather than $40,000, for goods or services within a 12-month period. Maintains the $20,000 cap for medically related services. Requires compliance with other existing conditions for the exception to apply. Applies to contracts executed on or after the date the act becomes law. 

    Section 2

    Requires the Division of Childhood Development and Early Education of the Department of Health and Human Services to post the following on its website: (1) education opportunities for kindergarten offered by local school administrative units, (2) educational opportunities for kindergarten offered by charter schools, and (3) scholarships for enrollment in non-public schools provided under Part 2A of Article 39 of GS Chapter 115C. Requires participating facilities to furnish this information upon request, and provide all families with the website. Effective January 1, 2022.

    Section 3

    Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to study and report on the need for additional positions and funding, and possible changes to laws, that would be necessary to expand the Department’s express permitting programs to encompass additional types of permits typically required for job creation, real estate development, and redevelopment activities. Requires a report to the specified NCGA committees and division by March 1, 2022.

    Section 4

    Amends GS 159G-23 to modify and add to the considerations the Division of Water Infrastructure (Division) is required to examine when evaluating applications for loans and grants from the Wastewater Reserve or the Drinking Water Reserve. Concerning priority for a project that improves designated impaired waters of the state, adds that greater priority is to be given to projects that improve designated impaired waters of the state that serve a public water supply for a large public water system, defined as serving more than 175,000 service connections. Adds that consideration for priority is to be given to projects improving regional coordination (previously, priority for local water supply plans that are better coordinated with respect to the State water supply plan). Lastly, adds that consideration for priority is to be given for wastewater system improvements made by a local government unit in order to protect or preserve the water supply of a neighboring local unit that has a lower poverty rate, lower utility bills, higher population growth, higher median household incomes, and lower unemployment. Applies to applications for loans or grants from the Wastewater Reserve or the Drinking Water Reserve received by the Division on or after July 1, 2021.

    Section 5

    Requires the Department of Revenue to provide the Revenue Laws Study Committee with information on the property taxation of outdoor advertising signs. Requires that the review include the specified topics, including reviewing the practices in other states. Requires that the information be provided to the Committee by March 31, 2022.

    Section 6

    Enacts GS 160D-910(g) to authorize cities to require by ordinance that manufactured homes be installed in compliance with the Set-Up and Installation Standards adopted by the Commissioner of Insurance, so long as the city does not require a masonry curtain wall or skirting for manufactured homes located on land leased to the homeowner. Effective October 1, 2021.

    Section 7

    Directs the Division of Emergency Management to consult with specified entities and study the needs of law enforcement, emergency medical and emergency management personnel, and firefighters to improve access to or within the interstate system in the state for the benefit of public safety. Details six required steps of the study, including determining potential sites of interest for construction or improvement and establishing criteria for prioritization of those sites. Requires the Division to report to the specified NCGA committees by March 1, 2022.

    Section 8

    Amends GS 58-41-15, concerning insurance cancellation, to make a clarifying and organizational change. Explicitly provides that proof of mailing is sufficient proof of notice of cancellation under the statute (rather than under subsection (b), which provides for notice requirements). Effective October 1, 2021.

    Section 9

    Amends GS 42-46 concerning fees, costs, and expenses in summary ejectment proceedings. Clarifies that the fees a landlord is authorized to charge pursuant to a written lease for filing a complaint, a court appearance, or trial following an appeal from a magistrate's judgment are administrative fees, defined to exclude out-of-pocket expenses, litigation costs, or other fees. Makes conforming changes. Adds a new provision stating it is against public policy for a landlord to claim or for a lease to provide for the payment of any out-of-pocket expenses or litigation costs for filing a complaint for summary ejectment and/or money owed rather than those expressly authorized in subsection (i). Modifies subsection (i) to provide for recovery of reasonable attorneys' fees actually paid or owed, rather than incurred, subject to existing caps. Specifies that the out-of-pocket expenses and litigation costs listed in subsection (i) can be included by the landlord in the amount required to cure a default. Makes further clarifying changes. 

    States intent for the above provisions to apply retroactively to all pending controversies as of the date the act becomes law, as the changes are intended to clarify legislative intent under previous amendments to the statute. 

    Section 10

    Enacts GS 42-36.1B to provide for relief from a judgment for possession following a tenant's fulfillment of all terms of a post-judgment relief agreement with the landlord, defined to mean an agreement between a landlord and tenant that allows the tenant to retain or regain possession of the demised premises after a landlord has been granted a judgment for possession of the premises. Bars causing the issuance or participation in the execution of a writ of possession or any related monetary judgment following the tenant's fulfillment of the terms of the post-judgment relief agreement. Requires the landlord to file a motion for relief from the judgment, including a proposed order with specified provisions, within 30 days after the tenant has fulfilled the terms of the agreement. Requires the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to develop and make available a form motion and order. Provides for service of the motion and entry of the order following ex parte review by the chief district court judge or the designee within 5 business days of filing. Requires the clerk to mail copies of the order to the parties in self-addressed, stamped envelopes provided by the landlord at filing. Allows for the tenant to file a motion to enforce the statute's provisions and hold the tenant liable after 30 days following a written demand and the landlord's failure to file a motion and proposed order. Allows recovery of attorneys' fees and costs, and monetary damages as specified based on whether the judgment was for unpaid rent. 

    Section 11

    Expands GS 72-1 to require innkeepers to provide suitable lodging accommodations for accepted guests in an inn, hotel, motel, or other similar transient occupancy (was, inn or hotel only). Adds a new provision defining transient occupancy to mean the rental of an accommodation by an inn, hotel, motel, or similar lodging facility to the same guest or occupant for fewer than 90 consecutive days. 

    Enacts GS 42-14.5 to explicitly exclude transient occupancies from the scope of the landlord/tenant laws of GS Chapter 42. Explicitly bars agreements related to transient occupancies from being deemed to create a tenancy or a residential tenancy unless expressly provided in the agreement. 

    Specifies that a person's rental period is calculated from the first day of consecutive occupancy, or right of occupancy, in the lodging facility regardless of whether the period began before or after the date the act becomes law. 

    Section 12

    Prohibits the following rules adopted by the Department of Transportation on August 28, 2020, from becoming effective: 19A NCAC 02E .0204 (Local Zoning Authorities), 19A NCAC 02E .0206 (Applications), and 19A NCAC 02E .0225 (Repair/Maintenance/Alteration/Reconstruction of Signs).

    Section 13

    Amends GS 130A-343(j) regarding approval of a wastewater system using expanded polystyrene synthetic aggregate particles as a septic effluent dispersal medium. Adds new provisions to specify that expanded polystyrene synthetic aggregate cylindrical units containing pipe and concentric media layers and approved by a nationally recognized certification body qualify as dispersal media for construction of prefabricated, permeable block panel systems, as that term is used in rules adopted by the Commission for Public Health (Commission). Bars the Commission, the Department of Health and Human Services, and local health departments from conditioning, delaying, or denying the permitting of such dispersal media as horizontal and vertical prefabricated, permeable block panel systems. Requires the minimum nitrification trench length to meet the manufacturer's installation specifications and not be less than the length defined in rules adopted by the Commission. 

    Requires the Commission to adopt conforming rules.

    Section 14

    Expands GS 18B-800(c2), which allows local ABC boards to fulfill orders by a mixed beverage permittee for individual bottles or cases of spirituous liquor produced by an eligible distillery that are listed as a regular code item for sale in the state. Modifies the definition set forth for eligible distillery under the subsection to include a distillery permittee (or the like in another jurisdiction) that sells fewer than 10,000 proof gallons of in-house brand spiritous liquors produced and manufactured by it at the permit holder's distillery per year (currently limited to those liquors distilled and manufactured by the permittee at the distillery per year). Adds to the requirements for ABC stores to display NC distilled spirits in a designated area to include spirits produced in North Carolina. 

    Expands GS 18B-1001(19), regarding spirituous liquor tasting permits, to allow those permittees to use the spirituous liquor produced at the distillery in addition to that distilled at the distillery where the event is being held.

    Expands GS 18B-1105(a)(4) to further authorize distillery permittees to sell spirituous liquor produced at the distillery in closed containers to visitors who tour the distillery for consumption off the premises in the same manner as that distilled at the distillery. 

    Expands GS 18B-1105(a)(2) to allow distillery permittees to sell, deliver, and ship spirituous liquor in closed containers at wholesale or retail to consumers of other states or nations, subject to the laws of those jurisdictions. 

    Directs the ABC Commission to amend its rules consistent with the above provisions as specified. 

    Effective July 1, 2021.