Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Makes conforming organizational changes to account for new sections. 

Section 2

Increases membership of the Feral Swine Working Group (WG) from nine to ten members, adding a representative of the North Carolina Forestry Association.

Section 3

Removes amendments to GS 160D-804 that would have required the subdivision regulation to provide that if any subdivision boundary abuts one or more protected farm tracts (a tract of land subject to an agricultural conservation easement), then the applicant must reserve a vegetative buffer of at least 100 feet between the shared boundary and the residential lots that would otherwise abut the protected farm tracts.

Replaces deleted content with requirement that the NC Real Estate Commission’s standard required disclosure statement under GS 47E-4 include disclosure of the existence of a voluntary agricultural district (defined) within one-half mile of any boundary of the real property.

Section 4

Modifies the grounds for a denial of a special use permit under GS 160D-705(c) based on its negative impact on agricultural production (was, undue negative impact), so that it is only available for a property owned by a business entity for less than three years. Specifies that the denial authority does not apply where the primary purpose of the proposed land use is the construction of buildings or structures subject to the NC Residential Code.

Section 9

Amends the following requirements under the Disposal Systems Rule (15A NCAC 02T .0113) for the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) to deem a disposal system to be permitted and not require individual permits or coverage under a general permit: (1) the disposal system is used for equine or bovine composting (was, a composting facility for equine or bovine mortality; (2) the construction and operation of the facilities, if they are included in the disposal system, are approved by DACS (previously no reference to disposal system); and (3) the disposal system (was, facilities) is approved by the State Veterinarian. Makes technical changes.

Section 12

Caps the annual pesticide assessment fee set by the Pesticide Board at $125.

Section 16

Removes prior revisions to GS 113-187 pertaining to violations of a shellfish lease or aquaculture operation and replaces it with the following. Now sets forth the following punishments for persons who operate a shellfish aquaculture operation who commit the following violations:

• For an improperly marked shellfish area, a warning ticket for the first offense, for a second offense within one month of the first issuance of a warning ticket punishable as an infraction, and for third offenses issued within one month of the warning ticket, a Class 3 misdemeanor.
• For operating under an expired aquaculture operation permit, if the violation occurs within one month of the expiration of the permit, a warning ticket.
• For operating under an expired shellfish lease agreement, if the violation occurs within one month of the expiration of the agreement, a warning ticket.

Changes the effective date to December 1, 2025 (was, July 1, 2025).

Section 19

Establishes that the duty of a manufacturer or seller of a pesticide to warn a consumer or the public about the risks associated with the pesticide under GS 99B-5 (failure to warn claims) is presumed to be satisfied if the pesticide bears the label approved by the US EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the pesticide is registered with the Pesticide Board. Provides for rebuttal of the presumption.

Section 20

Removes provisions in GS 106-266.35 that authorize the dispensing of raw milk or raw milk products for personal use or consumption to, or the acquisition of raw milk or raw milk products for personal use or consumption by, an independent or partial owner of a cow, goat, or other lactating animal. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

Section 21

Amends GS 106-581.1 by adding the production, processing, storage, use, and sale of compost for agricultural, residential, or commercial purposes by a permitted Small or Large Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3 composting facility as defined in rules adopted by the EMC as a type of agriculture referred to in Article 52, governing agricultural development, of GS Chapter 106. Defines compost to mean a product made from organic plant, animal, or food waste and created through controlled aerobic, biological decomposition of biodegradable materials that, when subject to mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures, stabilizes the carbon content, reduces the viability of pathogens and vector attraction, and when added to soils is beneficial to plant growth.