11 new state laws taking effect July 1

Eleven different pieces of legislation passed during the North Carolina General Assembly’s 2023-2024 short session, with many new provisions taking affect at the start of the new fiscal year, July 1. Below are 11 legislative changes to be aware of:

1. Schools for the Deaf and Blind – House Bill 11 changes the governance structure for three state-run schools — the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, the North Carolina School for the Deaf, and the Governor Morehead School for the Blind. SEE ALSO: NC House OKs bill changing governance structure for schools for deaf and blind

2. Revenue Laws – Senate Bill 174 makes various technical, clarifying, and administrative changes to the revenue laws as recommended by the NC Department of Revenue. 

3. Modifications to Notary Public Act – As of Monday, remote electronic notarizations are now authorized under Senate Bill 552. 

4. Child Advocacy Centers—House Bill 674 establishes criteria for Children’s Advocacy Centers to receive state funds, such as providing a child-friendly, trauma-informed space for children suspected to be victims of child maltreatment. Other funding requirements are listed, including annual staff training and utilizing a forensic interviewer to conduct on-site interviews with children in maltreatment cases. The law also sets confidentiality requirements for the sharing of information and access to records. 

5. Adoption Law/Notary Changes/ Guardianship Rights – In line with other notary changes, a section of Senate Bill 615 takes effect on Monday that requires an electronic notary who performs remote notarizations to enter information regarding the remote electronic notarization in an electronic journal.

6. High School Athletics—Although Gov. Roy Cooper opted not to sign Senate Bill 452 last year, the bill was enacted into law with changes to high school athletics. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association must follow rules adopted by the State Board of Education as of July 1. Rules include student eligibility, student health, safety requirements, and fees charged to member schools, as reported by The Center Square. Other sections of the bill are already in effect, such as clarification that the State Board of Education must follow all legislative rules, including biological participation requirements.

7. Regulatory Reform Act of 2023 – House Bill 200 is a 46-page bill that became effective last year. A few small sections become effect on July 1 that make technical changes to commercial mobile radio services (CMRS) and the NC 911 Board. 

8. Elections Law Changes – A section of the act pertaining to removing foreign citizens from voter rolls becomes effective on Monday under Senate Bill 747. It establishes a process for the removal of non-citizens excused from jury duty on that basis from voter registration rolls.

9. Surveyors Right of Entry/Expedite Commercial Building—Effective July 1 under Senate Bill 677, Section 1 pertains to professional land surveyor right-of-entry, and Section 2 pertains to commercial and multifamily building permits. 

10. 2023 Budget Technical/Other Corrections—Multiple items are clarified in Senate Bill 508, such as the DMV’s authority to implement transaction fees on electronic payments and local approval of an erosion and sedimentation control plan.

11. DOT Legislative Changes—Transportation changes require that a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or other vehicle identification information appear on unpaid toll bills. Another change in House Bill 198 authorizes the Regional Public Transportation Authority to increase toll processing fees.