All Roll Calls
Yes: 348 • No: 0
North CarolinaSB 4772025-2026 SessionSenateWALLET
AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE STATUTES GOVERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
Sponsored By: Todd Johnson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
ADMINISTRATIVE CODEADMINISTRATIVE RULESOBSOLETE LAWSARTSCONFIDENTIALITYCONSERVATIONCORPORATIONS, NONPROFITCULTURAL RESOURCESNATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES DEPT
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Free admission for school field trips
Beginning June 13, 2025, school groups do not pay regular admission at State-run parks, museums, and historic sites. The Department may still charge activity fees. It may also charge separate admission for special or temporary exhibits. This lowers the cost of school visits for families and schools.
Sensitive species locations kept confidential
The Department may withhold exact locations of rare plants, animals, and sensitive habitats when release could cause harm, theft, or destruction. This rule starts June 13, 2025. It protects fragile natural areas and private landowner privacy.
Targeted easements and broadband at parks
Beginning June 13, 2025, the State authorizes specific, mapped easements and communications uses on certain park and trail parcels. Examples include a temporary easement on 13.85 acres in Lake James State Park for Duke Energy’s Catawba Dam seismic work, town easements at Lake Waccamaw, a 1.538‑acre gas transmission easement on the Mountains‑to‑Sea Trail in Johnston County, a 1,658‑square‑foot broadband easement in the Lower Haw, a 4,417‑square‑foot access easement on the Fonta Flora Trail, and a 30‑foot‑wide AT&T fiber route in Chimney Rock State Park. Money from the Mountains‑to‑Sea and Fonta Flora easements can only fund those trails or State park improvements. The State may provide tower space for public safety, local government, and public TV antennas at Mount Jefferson and Chimney Rock Mountain. At South Mountains State Park (Walkertop Mountain), the State must allow broadband providers to collocate equipment on existing State structures under G.S. 146‑29.2.
Park land limits and longer leases
The law fixes which park and preserve lands count as of May 6, 2025. Certain excluded tracts are removed from the State Parks System and can be sold or traded only to expand the named park. Any sale money must be used for that park’s expansion. DNCR may enter leases of federal lands at Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, and Kerr Lake for more than 30 years, up to 50 years.
Faster visitor rules at state sites
The Department can set visitor conduct rules for State-run parks, museums, and historic sites without the usual formal rulemaking steps. This begins June 13, 2025. It can speed safety and access rules. It also reduces the time for formal public rulemaking on these visitor rules.
State culture staffing and board changes
Starting June 13, 2025, some museum, arts, and historic site leaders are exempt from certain State HR classification and pay rules. The North Carolina Symphony Society is not a State agency and has a new board that includes the Governor and the State Superintendent, plus four members named by the Governor. The State may use the Contingency and Emergency Fund to publish Governors' papers, and unused money reverts to the General Fund. The Department must file a progress report every two years by February 15 of odd-numbered years. The law also repeals two older provisions to clean up outdated rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Todd Johnson
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/10/2025
SB 477: DNCR Agency Bill.
Yes: 111 • No: 0 • Other: 9
House vote • 6/10/2025
SB 477: DNCR Agency Bill.
Yes: 111 • No: 0 • Other: 9
Senate vote • 5/1/2025
SB 477: DNCR Agency Bill.-AB
Yes: 42 • No: 0 • Other: 8
Senate vote • 5/1/2025
SB 477: DNCR Agency Bill.-AB
Yes: 42 • No: 0 • Other: 8
Senate vote • 5/1/2025
SB 477: DNCR Agency Bill.-AB
Yes: 42 • No: 0 • Other: 8
Actions Timeline
Ch. SL 2025-10
6/13/2025SenateSigned by Gov. 6/13/2025
6/13/2025SenatePres. To Gov. 6/12/2025
6/12/2025SenateRatified
6/11/2025SenateOrdered Enrolled
6/10/2025HousePassed 3rd Reading
6/10/2025HousePassed 2nd Reading
6/10/2025HouseAdded to Calendar
6/10/2025HouseCal Pursuant Rule 36(b)
6/10/2025HouseReptd Fav
6/10/2025HouseRe-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
6/4/2025HouseReptd Fav
6/4/2025HouseRe-ref to the Com on Agriculture and Environment, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
5/29/2025HouseWithdrawn From Com
5/29/2025HouseRef To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
5/6/2025HousePassed 1st Reading
5/6/2025HouseRegular Message Received From Senate
5/5/2025HouseRegular Message Sent To House
5/5/2025SenateEngrossed
5/1/2025SenatePassed 3rd Reading
5/1/2025SenatePassed 2nd Reading
5/1/2025SenateAmend Adopted A1
5/1/2025SenateReptd Fav
4/30/2025SenateRe-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
4/29/2025SenateCom Substitute Adopted
4/29/2025Senate
Bill Text
Edition 1
Edition 2
Edition 3
Edition 4
Filed
Latest Edition
Related Bills
HB 696 — AN ACT TO PROMOTE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER TRANSPARENCY THROUGH ADVERTISEMENT REQUIREMENTS.
SB 449 — AN ACT TO REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO REQUIRE MINIMUM CONSIDERATIONS ON TECHNOLOGY COSTS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REPORT ON BREAK/FIX RATE.
HB 926 — AN ACT TO PROVIDE FURTHER REGULATORY RELIEF TO THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA.
HB 307 — AN ACT TO MODIFY TIME LIMITS ON MOTIONS FOR APPROPRIATE RELIEF IN NONCAPITAL CASES; TO PLACE XYLAZINE AND KRATOM ON THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE SCHEDULES; TO CREATE A NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR EXPOSING A CHILD TO A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE; TO REQUIRE RECORDATION OF ALL CRIMINAL MATTERS IN DISTRICT COURT AND ESTABLISH WHEN THOSE RECORDS MAY BE DISCLOSED; TO REVISE LAWS PERTAINING TO THE DISCLOSURE AND RELEASE OF AUTOPSY INFORMATION COMPILED OR PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER; TO REVISE THE LAW GOVERNING THE GRANTING OF IMMUNITY TO WITNESSES; AND TO CLARIFY THE STANDING OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IN CERTAIN CASES.
HB 358 — AN ACT TO MAINTAIN NAIC ACCREDITATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE BY IMPLEMENTING GROUP CAPITAL CALCULATION AND LIQUIDITY STRESS TEST REQUIREMENTS AND TO MAKE VARIOUS CONFORMING CHANGES, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE.
SB 55 — AN ACT TO REQUIRE REGULATION OF STUDENT USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.