North Carolina lawmakers passed new laws last year and this year, several of which went into effect July 1, including laws related to elections, trees around billboards and the jurisdiction of the N.C. High School Athletic Association.
These are the laws that went into effect on Monday:
Changes to the electoral law
Senate Bill 747: “Changes to the Electoral Act.”
This is a sweeping GOP-authored bill that includes a series of so-called “election integrity” measures pushed by conservative groups. This includes eliminating the three-day grace period for receiving mail ballots. Instead, ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Articles taking effect in July address requests for exemption from jury service and a new requirement that state and county boards of elections maintain a list of eligible voters and update it to remove those who are not.
Parts of this law are being challenged in court. A federal judge also temporarily blocked parts of it related to the notification process for voters who cast ballots using same-day registration. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed this bill, but it was overridden by the GOP-led Legislature.
Late toll bills
Bill 198: “Legislative Amendments to the DOT.”
From July, toll invoices must include a vehicle identification number (VIN) or other vehicle identification data.
Processing fees for tolls not paid within the required time will also increase from $6 to $9. Late payment penalties were previously capped at $48 per invoice per year; this law increased that cap to $72.
Also, there is now a provision in effect under this law that allows billboard companies to cut down more trees along the state’s highways — 500 feet in front of the sign, instead of 350 — and remove protections for redbud trees. Cooper vetoed this bill. It was ignored.
Water quality
Bill 600: “Regulatory Reform Act of 2023.”
This bill relaxes water quality requirements for a pipeline project called MVP Southgate. Cooper vetoed the bill because it would “result in dirtier water, discriminatory permitting, and threats to North Carolina’s environment.” The veto was overridden. The bill’s sponsors have said it will help reduce regulatory burdens. Sections that go into effect in July make changes to the commercial mobile network.
Notary changes
Senate Bill 552: “Amendments to the Notary Act.”
The law makes several changes to the state’s notary law, many of which went into effect months ago. Starting in July, electronic notaries who are not licensed attorneys in North Carolina will be prohibited from providing services or advice that constitute the practice of law.
Senate Bill 615: “Adoption Act/Notary Amendments/Guardianship Rights.” The section, which went into effect on July 1, requires an electronic notary who performs a remote notarial act to record the remote electronic notarial act in an electronic journal.
Human trafficking
Bill 971: “Changes in Human Trafficking.”
This law introduces several changes to human trafficking legislation, including a higher penalty for a first offense of soliciting another person for prostitution.
In July, provisions went into effect giving campus police access to the Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Automated Data System, a database of information about offenders.
NCHSAA Oversight
Senate Bill 452: “Amendments to the DOI & Insurance Act/Revision of secondary school athletics.”
This law strips the NC High School Athletic Association of more authority, including requiring it to enter into an agreement with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with reporting requirements, audits and stricter oversight.
Child advocacy centers
Bill 674: “Child Protection Centers/Information Sharing.”
This law establishes criteria that child protection centers must meet in order to receive government funding. For example, a forensic interviewer must conduct on-site interviews with children who may have been abused.
It also provides immunity from civil liability to members and volunteers of an advocacy center in certain cases for “acts performed in good faith,” the law says. The law also outlines what data can be shared among advocacy centers, health care providers, law enforcement and others.
Schools for the deaf and blind
House Bill 11: “Schools for the Deaf and Blind.” Parts of the law that went into effect in July create a board of trustees for schools for the deaf and blind. A new model of governance for these schools under these boards also went into effect.
Other laws coming into effect:
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Senate Bill 174: “Technical, Clarifying, and Administrative Changes to the Tax Laws.”
