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

Amends the short and long titles.

Deletes Section 3 of the previous edition, which dealt with the preclearance of the changes made by Section 1 of the bill affecting voting under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Charter of the Town of Tryon, which is Section 1 of Chapter 441 of the 1971 Session laws, amending language throughout the Charter to make it gender neutral.

Provides that notwithstanding GS 160A-148(1), the Board of Commissioners will appoint the Tryon town clerk but can grant the town manager the authority to direct and supervise the town clerk to the extent deemed appropriate by the board. Makes conforming changes. Provides that the town manager does not have the authority to appoint or remove the town clerk. Requires the independent audit to be conducted pursuant to GS 159-34 by a certified public accountant or a qualified public accountant certified under GS Chapter 93 (was, qualified public accountant registered under GS 93). Provides that the Tryon Planning and Adjustment Board will be comprised of seven members and two alternates. Four members and one alternate, all residents of the Town of Tryon, are appointed by the Board of Commissioners and three members and one alternate, all residents of the area outside of and within one mile of the corporate limits of Tryon, are appointed by the Board of Commissioners of Polk County. Makes conforming changes. Provides that an 80% vote of the Planning and Adjustment Board will be necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of any administrative official with respect to the territory outside of and within one mile of the corporate limits of the Town of Tryon.