Raleigh, N.C. – Another round of business and agency regulatory reforms passed the North Carolina House of Representatives on Thursday, maintaining Republican leaders’ commitment to streamline and simplify the state’s rule-making processes so the economy can thrive.
Senate Bill 16 Business and Agency Reg. Reform Act of 2017 reduces the burden of excessive state guidelines on the public and private sectors while increasing notice requirements and citizens’ access to judicial review of new agency rules and regulations.
The legislation passed the state House by a vote of 79-29 with bipartisan support.
“The North Carolina House continues to identify regulatory reforms that remove barriers to economic growth and reduce the cost of doing business in our state,” said House Speaker Tim Moore.
“These reforms enhance transparency and improve public input on the state’s rule-making process, empowering North Carolina taxpayers with a louder voice in the government process.”
Senate Bill 16 combines recommendations from the Joint Administrative Procedures Oversight Committee, the Department of Labor, other legislative proposals and suggestions from state policy stakeholders.
The legislation is part of a continued effort by House Republicans to eliminate and improve excessive, duplicative and onerous regulations that burden North Carolinians and the state’s economy.
Summary of Senate Bill 16
- Senate Bill 16 ensures that all objections to agency rules are recorded as public comment, expanding the impact of citizens and businesses who wish to file on-the-record complaints about state regulations.
- The regulatory reform legislation expands public notice requirements of proposed rule changes to keep North Carolinians more informed and allow citizens time to submit comments and have input on the regulatory process.
- Senate Bill 16 removes hurdles for North Carolinians to petition for judicial review of regulations by eliminating the requirement that a person or party petition an agency through the rules review process before seeking relief in court.
- Senate Bill 16 also helps agencies prioritize critical reports to ensure impactful regulations receive the highest scrutiny from agency officials and the legislature.
- It reforms regulations that oversee state agencies, bed and breakfasts, alarm system salespeople, and businesses that provide critical solid waste disposal services.
- It also clarifies stormwater laws to ease duplicative requirements on coastal redevelopment of residential projects and proposes several legislative studies.
- The legislation removes an outdated requirement that pipelines and mains originate in North Carolina for public bodies to exercise eminent domain to expand their construction.
- Finally, the legislation adds a new requirement that vehicle backup lamps be in working order to pass annual safety inspections.
Senate Bill 16 is the second regulatory reform proposal passed by the 2017 North Carolina General Assembly, after the Regulatory Reform Act of 2016-17 passed earlier this year.
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Regulatory Reforms Passed by the Republican-led General Assembly Since 2011:
2011 HB 268 Reclaimed Water Rules/Storm Debris Cleanup
2011 HB 209 Amend Solid Waste Financial Assurance Requirements
2011 HB 609 Promote Water Supply Development/Efficiency
2011 HB 952 State Air Toxics Program Reforms
2011 HB 45 Accelerate Cleanup of Industrial Properties
2011 HB 119 Amend Environmental Laws 2011
2012 HB 953 Amend Environmental Laws 2
2013 HB 74 Regulatory Reform Act of 2013
2014 SB 734 Regulatory Reform Act of 2014
2015 HB 44 Local Government Regulatory Reform 2015
2015 HB 765 Regulatory Reform Act of 2015
2017 SB 131 Regulatory Reform Act of 2016-17
2017 SB 16 Business and Agency Regulatory Reform Act of 2017