North Carolina SB 447: Disaster Resiliency/Emergency Management.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 447

Short Title: Reliable Water & Sewer Infrastructure Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Everitt and Grafstein (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 25, 2025
*S447-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE SEWER REPAIR TASK FORCE, AND TO APPROPRIATE 2
FUNDS TO THE SOUTH GRANVILLE WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY. 3
Whereas, the development of wastewater infrastructure is essential to economic 4
growth in North Carolina, particularly rural areas and rapidly developing suburban counties of 5
the State; and 6
Whereas, the State Water Infrastructure Authority estimated in 2017 that there was 7
$11 billion in unmet wastewater infrastructure capital needs across the State; and 8
Whereas, it is in the interest of the State's environment and citizens to have access to 9
modern, functional wastewater infrastructure; Now, therefore, 10
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 11
SECTION 1.(a) Establishment; Purpose. – The Sewer Repair Task Force (Task 12
Force) is established. The purpose of the Task Force is (i) to review and assess the current state 13
of wastewater infrastructure in the State, (ii) to develop strategies and plans for the effective 14
implementation of wastewater treatment projects, for addressing existing challenges and barriers 15
to project financing and construction, and for addressing future needs within the State, and (iii) 16
to identify funding mechanisms, including potential contributions from industrial wastewater 17
discharges, to support wastewater infrastructure development. 18
SECTION 1.(b) Task Force. – The Task Force shall consist of 18 members, 19
appointed as follows: 20
(1) Four members of the House of Representatives upon the recommendation of 21
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a member 22
of the minority party. 23
(2) Four members of the Senate upon the recommendation of the President Pro 24
Tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party. 25
(3) The Director of the Division of Water Infrastructure of the Department of 26
Environmental Quality or the Director's designee, ex officio and nonvoting. 27
(4) The Director of the Local Government Commission or the Director's designee, 28
ex officio and nonvoting. 29
(5) Four county commissioners, who are advisory and nonvoting, one of whom is 30
appointed upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of 31
Representatives, one of whom is appointed upon the recommendation of the 32
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom is appointed 33
upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and 34
one of whom is appointed upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader 35
of the Senate. 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 447-First Edition
(6) Four representatives of a local government wastewater entity, who are 1
advisory and nonvoting, one of whom is appointed upon the recommendation 2
of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom is appointed 3
upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the House of 4
Representatives, one of whom is appointed upon the recommendation of the 5
President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and one of whom is appointed upon the 6
recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate. For purposes of this 7
act, a local government wastewater entity is any of the following: 8
a. A water and sewer authority created pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 9
162A of the General Statutes. 10
b. A metropolitan sewerage district created pursuant to Article 5 of 11
Chapter 162A of the General Statutes. 12
c. A metropolitan water and sewerage district created pursuant to Article 13
5A of Chapter 162A of the General Statutes. 14
d. A county water and sewer district created pursuant to Article 6 of 15
Chapter 162A of the General Statutes. 16
e. A sanitary district created pursuant to Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 17
130A of the General Statutes that is providing wastewater collection 18
or treatment services. 19
f. A joint agency created pursuant to Part 1 or Part 5 of Article 20 of 20
Chapter 160A of the General Statutes that is providing wastewater 21
collection or treatment services. 22
SECTION 1.(c) The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the 23
House of Representatives shall each appoint a cochair of the Task Force from among its 24
membership. 25
SECTION 1.(d) The Task Force shall meet upon the call of its cochairs. A quorum 26
of the Task Force is a majority of its members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote 27
at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Task Force, while in the discharge of its official 28
duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120-19 through G.S. 120-19.4. The Task 29
Force may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services, as provided by 30
G.S. 120-32.02. If the Task Force hire