AN ACT to provide for the control and prevention of invasive species in north carolina.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 113‑129(10a) is recodified as G.S. 113‑129(10b).

SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 113‑129, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(10a)  Invasive species. – Any of the following:

a.         Coyote (Canis latrans).

b.         European starling (Sturnus vulgaris).

c.         Feral swine (Sus scrofa).

d.         Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

e.         Lionfish (Pterois volitans).

f.          Nutria (Myocastor coypus).

g.         Exotic species regulated by the Wildlife Resources Commission under G.S. 113‑292(d), and any other species not native to the State that the Wildlife Resources Commission, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, determines to be a threat to native ecosystems, a threat to introduce epizotic diseases to native species, or a risk to agriculture.

SECTION 1.(c)  Article 22 of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes is amended by adding two new sections to read:

§ 113‑292.1.  Control of invasive species.

(a)        Finding. – The General Assembly finds that invasive species present a significant threat to ecosystems, agriculture, and private property across the State and that the hunting and trapping of those species is a practical and cost‑effective solution to controlling these populations.

(b)        Commission to Adopt Rules. – The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue rules establishing open seasons and manner of take requirements in all 100 counties of the State for all invasive species that the Commission determines to be game animals or game birds. Seasons established under this subsection shall maximize opportunities for hunters and trappers to take invasive species.

(c)        Nongame Invasive Species. – With respect to invasive species that the Wildlife Resources Commission finds are not game animals or game birds, the Commission shall develop programs to encourage control of those species by State agencies, local governments, private landowners, hunters, and trappers.

(d)       Local Acts in Conflict. – Any local acts in conflict with the provisions of this section are repealed to the extent of the conflict.

§ 113‑292.2.  Invasive Species Management Fund.

(a)        Fund Established. – The Invasive Species Management Fund (Fund) is established as a special revenue fund. The Fund consists of General Fund appropriations, gifts, grants, devises, funds contributed by non‑State entities, and any other revenues or receipts of the Wildlife Resources Commission specifically allocated to the Fund by an act of the General Assembly.

(b)        Uses of the Fund. – Revenue in the Fund may only be used for the following purposes:

(1)        Activities to manage, control, and eradicate invasive species, including the development of management, control, or eradication plans for particular invasive species.

(2)        Public education regarding the harms caused by invasive species. Funding of public educational activities under this subdivision are limited to no more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in each fiscal year.

(3)        The establishment of a Rapid Response Team (RRT) composed of representatives of the Wildlife Resources Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality. Upon a request from the Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission, the RRT shall evaluate the information provided and the severity and risk level of the invasive species discovered in the State and coordinate a response to address the immediate needs for response, public notification, and education. Funding of the RRT is limited to one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) in each fiscal year.

(c)        Emergency Funding Requests. – If the Commission determines that an introduction of an invasive species to the State constitutes a significant threat to ecosystems, agriculture, and private property across the State, the Commission may declare an invasive species emergency. Upon declaration of the emergency, the Commission shall request needed additional funding for immediate investigation, containment, and eradication of the outbreak from the Contingency and Emergency Fund to the Council of State for approval following the process set forth in G.S. 143C‑4‑4(c). The approved funds will be allocated by the State Controller to the Fund.

(d)       Report. – The Commission shall report annually no later than October 1 regarding activities completed or undertaken with financial support from the Fund to the Fiscal Research Division and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources. The report shall include activity type, activity location, brief description of the activity, entity receiving the funding, and amount of funding provided.

SECTION 2.  The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year is appropriated from the General Fund to the Wildlife Resources Commission, to be allocated to the Invasive Species Management Fund established by G.S. 113‑292.2, as enacted by Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2024.