Sets out legislative findings.

Adds new GS 143B-279.22, “Artificial Intelligence in Environmental Permitting.” Defines terms. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) to establish the Joint A.I. Environmental Permitting Program to implement the use of artificial intelligence (“A.I.”) to assist agency staff in drafting and reviewing environmental permit applications. Authorizes EMC to adopt rules not subject to specified provisions of GS Chapter 150B for DEQ staff use of such A.I. systems to (1) define permissible uses of A.I. in the permitting process, (2) establish quality assurance and control requirements, (3) adopt staff training requirements, (4) establish confidentiality, cybersecurity, and data protection requirements, (5) prohibit the use of A.I. systems that use applicant information, permit application materials, or agency records to train a vendor-owned or third-party A.I. model without particular approval, and (6) establish protocols for monitoring A.I. accuracy and performance and potentially discontinuing use of A.I. based on such metrics. Provides that no environmental permit application shall be acted upon solely on the basis of A.I. output and must be independently reviewed by agency staff. Directs DEQ to maintain and publish documents describing these A.I. systems and their functions in the permitting process and to inform permit applicants that A.I. was used to assist staff review. Directs EMC and DEQ to implement the program consistent with State and federal laws. Requires DEQ to submit a report to the specified NCGA committees and division by January 15 annually and sets out report requirements.

Directs DEQ and EMC to implement the program in four specified phases based on the type of permit. Provides that appropriated funds may be used to hire temporary EMC staff with A.I. experience to improve the efficiency and quality of environmental permit processing and that these positions shall not be subject to the position and salary requirements of GS Chapter 126.

Appropriates $1 million for 2026-27 from the General Fund to DEQ to implement the program and specifies that funds do not revert.

Effective July 1, 2026.