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

Amends proposed GS 20-280.5, now requiring transportation network companies (TNCs) to have the vehicle's license plate number displayed in a legible font no smaller than two inches in height (was, no small than the font of the license plate on the vehicle). Adds a new provision to specify that a TNC driver is not required to obtain approval from the TNC or the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the required license plate number display.

Enacts GS 14-401.26, making it an infraction punishable by a $250 fine for a TNC driver to fail to display the license plate number of the TNC driver's vehicle as required by new GS 20-280.5(d). Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2019.

Changes the proposed GS number for the impersonating a TNC driver offense created by the act.

Enacts GS 14-33(c)(9), making assault of a TNC driver providing a TNC service a Class A1 misdemeanor (rather than a Class 2 misdemeanor for simple assault). Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2019.

Appropriates $500,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund to the DMV for the 2020-21 fiscal year as grants funds to match higher education institution funds to develop and implement an awareness campaign to educate students at higher education institutions (previously, appropriated $100,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for the 2020-21 fiscal year to the UNC Board of Governors to develop and implement an awareness campaign to educate students at constituent institutions on informational requirements of TNC drivers under current state law and those enacted). Specifies that the appropriations are to be used as grant funds until fully awarded. Specifies that the primary focus of the campaign is TNC driver identification requirements. Allows all higher education institutions in the state to apply for a grant by submitting a campaign plan, cost estimate, and evidence of institution funds committed for the campaign. Specifies that the grant matches non-State dollars of applicants on a 1:1 ratio, with the grant capped at $10,000 per applicant per fiscal year. Effective July 1, 2020.