Identical to H 100, filed 2/16/21.

Titles the act, "The Highway Cleanup Act of 2021."

Amends GS 14-399, increasing the following civil fines relating to littering. For littering in violation of subsection (a) in an amount not exceeding 15 pounds and not for commercial purposes, increases the civil fine from no less than $250 and no more than $1,000, to no less than $500 and no more than $2,000 for the first violation, and from no less than $500 and no more than $2,000, to a fine of no less than $1,000 and no more than $4,000 for subsequent violations. For littering in an amount exceeding 15 pounds but not exceeding 500 pounds and not for commercial purposes, increases the fine from not less than $500 and not more than $2,000, to not less than $1,000 and not more than $4,000. For violations of of subsection (a) punishable as a felony that result in sustained damages, requires payment to the injured party in treble the amount of actual damages or $400 (was $200), whichever is greater.

For littering in an amount not exceeding 15 pounds in violation of subsection (a1), increases the fine from no more than $100 to no more than $200 for the first violation, and from no more than $200 to no more than $400 for subsequent violations. For littering in an amount exceeding 15 pounds but not exceeding 500 pounds, increases the fine from not more than $200 to not more than $400. For littering in an amount exceeding 500 pounds, increases the fine from not more than $300 to not more than $600.

Directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to use of to $500,000 of appropriated funds from the Highway Fund in SL 2020-91 to establish the Cops Clean NC grant program (program) to award grants to sheriffs' offices in rural counties to provide officers overtime pay for litter cleanup efforts. Defines rural counties to mean counties with a population of less than 150,000. Caps grants at $10,000. Requires DOT to provide relevant educational materials. Requires distribution of educational materials to first time littering offenders. 

Directs DOT to use $500,000 of appropriated funds from the Highway Fund in SL 2020-91 to raise awareness and participation in the five existing anti-litter programs identified.