North Carolina SB 401: 24th Senatorial District Local Act-1.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025

SESSION LAW 2026-11
SENATE BILL 401

*S401-v-5*
AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE AGRICULTURAL LAWS OF THIS
STATE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

AGRICULTURAL WATER PLAN UPDATE
SECTION 1.(a) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall update
the Strategic Plan for Protecting Agricultural Water Resources in North Carolina established in
S.L. 2010-149 to include all of the following:
(1) Water infrastructure needs to increase access and long-term storage capacity.
(2) Water conservation and reuse practices.
(3) Cost-share assistance needed to incentivize (i) construction of water
infrastructure to increase access and long-term storage capacity and (ii)
implementation of water conservation and reuse practices.
(4) Methods to identify best management practices for temporary water storage
and retention to mitigate downstream flooding.
(5) Methods to identify best management practices to reduce the impact of
flooding on agricultural lands.
(6) Methods to design incentive programs to compensate landowners that
participate in flood mitigation programs.
SECTION 1.(b) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall report
to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic
Resources by January 1, 2027, on the development of the plan and any legislative changes needed
to implement the plan.

FERAL SWINE WORKING GROUP
SECTION 2.(a) There is authorized and housed administratively within the Wildlife
Resources Commission the Feral Swine Working Group. The Working Group shall consist of 10
members, as follows:
(1) The Executive Director of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission or the Executive Director's designee, who shall serve as cochair.
(2) The Commissioner of Agriculture or the Commissioner's designee, who shall
serve as cochair.
(3) The Forest Supervisor of the United States Forest Service or the Forest
Supervisor's designee.
(4) The State Director of the Wildlife Services Division of the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture or
the State Director's designee.
(5) A representative of the North Carolina Pork Council.
(6) A representative of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association.
(7) A representative of the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association.

Page 2 Session Law 2026-11 Senate Bill 401
(8) The President of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., or the
President's designee.
(9) A representative of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.
(10) A representative of the North Carolina Forestry Association.
SECTION 2.(b) The Feral Swine Working Group shall develop a statewide plan to
control feral swine damage on private and public lands. The Feral Swine Working Group shall
act in an advisory capacity to the Wildlife Resources Commission. In developing the plan, the
Working Group shall do all of the following:
(1) Orient the plan primarily toward public health and safety and toward
landowner assistance, providing some relief to landowners through feral
swine control, management, and eradication.
(2) Develop a system for sharing data and information as well as documenting all
activities associated with feral swine damage control efforts, so as to facilitate
evaluation of efforts.
(3) Provide educational activities as a part of the program, such as printed
materials, on-site instructions, and local workshops.
(4) Provide for the hiring of personnel necessary to implement feral swine damage
control activities, administer the program, and set salaries of personnel.
SECTION 2.(c) No later than January 1 of each year, the Working Group shall issue
a report to the Wildlife Resources Commission, the Senate and House Appropriations
Subcommittees on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research
Division on the results of the program during the preceding year.
SECTION 2.(d) The Wildlife Resources Commission shall implement the plan and
may enter a cooperative agreement with the Wildlife Services Division of the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, the United States Department of Agriculture, the North Carolina
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and other relevant agencies or organizations
to accomplish the plan.

REPEAL VIOLATION POINTS SYSTEM APPLICABLE TO SWINE FARMS
SECTION 4. G.S. 143-215.6E is repealed.

SWINE FARM SITING ACT TECHNICAL CORRECTION
SECTION 5.(a) G.S. 106-803(a2) reads as rewritten:
"(a2) No component of a liquid animal waste management system for which a permit is
required under Part 1 or 1A Part 1A of Article 21 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, other
than a land application site, shall be constructed on land that is located within the 100-year
floodplain."
SECTION 5.(b) G.S. 106-805 reads as rewritten:
"§ 106-805. Written notice of swine farms.
Any person who intends to construct a swine farm whose animal waste management system
is subject to a perm