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

Removes Section 2 that would have amended SL 2025-74 by extending the deadline for the North Carolina Collaboratory’s study on the statutory process for approving surface water transfers so that the report was due to the 2028 General Assembly (was, 2027), by January 15, 2028. Removes section titled Section 3 that would have extended the moratorium on issuing certificates allowing a significant new surface water transfer or a significant increase in an existing surface water transfer so that it ended August 1, 2028, instead of March 1, 2027.

Section 5.

Removes address information requirement from the marking requirements for supply tank or containers with a total capacity of greater than five gallons under GS 119-58. Allows persons other than the supplier or owner of a system to fill or refill a properly inspected system (was, inspected and certified system) in a qualified emergency. Requires that the emergency supplier make a good faith effort to contact the current supplier and obtain consent before attempting to do so.

Section 10.

Requires, in GS 160D-108.1 (vested rights – site specific vesting plans) that development conducted pursuant to a site-specific vesting plan comply with any building, fire, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical codes applicable to the development and in effect at the time the plan was approved.

Makes technical change to the title of Section 12.

Section 13.

Now recodifies the provisions creating a residential right of use in commercial districts in GS 160D-703(a1) to new GS 160D-703.1, rewritten as follows. Applies only to cities with a population of 50,000 or greater that are located in counties with a population of 275,000 or greater. Defines redevelopment as the demolition and reconstruction of, or rehabilitation and improvement of, an existing structure or structures on a parcel, or the clearing and new construction on a parcel that contains or previously contained an impervious surface, building, or other structure associated with a prior use. It does not include the construction of a new primary structure on a vacant parcel that has never been developed. Requires a local government zoning regulation to allow the three following things as a use by right on property undergoing redevelopment in the areas zoned for nonagricultural commercial, business, of industrial use: (1) the siting of buildings and structures subject to the NC Residential Code (RC); (2) the siting of multifamily housing structures with more than four residential dwelling units; and (3) buildings and structures containing both residential dwelling units and nonresidential uses, provided that only the residential component of any such building or structure is a use by right, regardless of whether the nonresidential component requires a permit, special use authorization, or other approval. Prevents a zoning regulation from establishing a maximum building height of less than 60 feet.

Section 14.

Makes technical change to reference to RC in GS 160D-917 (accessory dwelling units). Limits the applicability of the statute to cities with a population of 50,000 or greater. After an accessory dwelling unit has been permitted for construction on a parcel, specifies that the parcel may not be further subdivided such that the accessory dwelling unit would be located on a different parcel than the primary single-family detached dwelling. Makes conforming change to definition of accessory dwelling unit.

Section 18.

Expands the certification authorities who can certify any of the firearms safety and training course under GS 14-415.12 to include US LawShield.

Adds the following new content.

Section 9.5.

Modifies the priorities for awarding grants to counties from the Needs-Based Pubic School Capital Fund in GS 115C-546.10 so that it funds projects for a local school administrative unit that has not received grant funds under the governing Article of GS Chapter 115C in the previous three years. Removes priority for counties that have not received a grant under the article in the previous three years.

Section 10.5.

Expands the scope of GS 160D-1106, which requires local governments to accept and approve, without further responsibility to inspect, a design or other proposal for the matters listed to also include home power installations. Defines home power installation (an electric generating or energy storage system, standby system, or associated equipment, connected at 600 volts or less, intended to provide electrical power to a building or structure subject to the North Carolina Residential Code that requires a building permit or other approval) and responsible code council. Clarifies that the inspection certification contains information pertaining to field inspection (was, just inspections) and a description of the component, element, or home power installation covered by the certification. Makes conforming changes and technical changes. Allows inspections under GS 143-143.2 (electric wiring of houses, buildings, and structures) that have to conform to the NC State Building Code (BC) to allow an inspection made of the wiring of a home power installation to be conducted in accordance with GS 110D-1106. Effective July 1, 2027.

Directs the Residential Code Council (RCC) to develop a home power installation work certification and make it available on the Office of the State Fire Marshal's website by July 1, 2027. Authorizes the RCC to adopt or amend rules to implement the section to become effective on July 1, 2027.

Section 17.5.

Reduces the continuing education hour requirement for used motor vehicle dealers from one six-hour course to one four-hour course in GS 20-288.

Section 21.

Applicable to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2026, increases the following fines for reckless littering under GS 14-399 as follows:

• When the amount does not exceed ten pounds and is not for commercial purposes from fines ranging $500 to $1,000 to fines ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 and for second offenses, from fines ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 to fines ranging from $3,000 to $5,000.
• When amount is higher than 10 pounds but less than 500 pounds from fines ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 to fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
• When the amount exceeds 500 pounds or in any quantity for commercial purposes from a fine of $5,000 to a fine ranging from $10,000 to $15,000.

Section 22.

Adds the following finding to the telephone solicitations provisions of GS Chapter 75 in GS 75-100: a telephone number is the property of a telephone subscriber, subject to the terms and conditions of the subscriber's contract with a telephone carrier. Defines telephone solicitation in GS 75-101 to include legal agents of the individual business or other legal entity that meets the definition. Prevents, in GS 75-102(i), telephone solicitors from using any other alteration to the origin of the telephone solicitation that displays in a way to give the perception that the call originated from any other origin except the actual origin of the telephone solicitation. Makes a conforming change. Adds new GS 75-104.1, that prevents a telephone carrier from knowingly and intentionally acting to transmit, sell, or otherwise provide the numbers of telephone subscribers to any entity the telephone carrier knows: (1) will use the number to violate provisions of this Article, (2) has previously used telephone subscriber information to violate provisions of this Article, or (3) has previously provided the information to another entity that has violated provisions of this Article. Clarifies that telephone carriers are not to be held liable for a telemarketer’s violation of GS 75-102(i). Allows for a telephone subscriber who has received a phone call in knowing violation of GS 75-102(i) to bring an action to recover $10,000 for each call placed under GS 75-105. Applies to phone calls made on or after December 1, 2026.

Makes conforming organizational changes.