GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2025

SESSION LAW 2026-56

HOUSE BILL 116

AN ACT TO ANNEX INTO THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, AND MARINE CORPS SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND AT STONES BAY AND THE NEW RIVER; and to make conforming changes related to that annexation into the city of jacksonville.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The following described territory removed from the corporate limits of any municipality in which any portion of property lies and is added to the corporate limits of the City of Jacksonville:

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Beginning at the intersection of the southern right‑of‑way line of NC Highway 24 and the centerline of the Camp Lejeune Railroad;

Thence leaving said right‑of‑way and following the centerline of said Camp Lejeune Railroad in a southerly direction for approximately 3,600 feet to the intersection of the Camp Lejeune Railroad and the centerline of the mainline of the Camp Lejeune Railroad to a point;

Thence along the mainline of the Camp Lejeune Railroad, paralleling Holcomb Boulevard in a southeasterly and southerly direction for a distance of approximately 13,200 feet to the point of intersection of the centerline of Sneads Ferry Road and the centerline of the Camp Lejeune Railroad;

Thence following the centerline of the Sneads Ferry Road in a southeasterly direction approximately 17,700 feet to the intersection of said road and the high water mark of the southern bank of Cowhead Creek;

Thence following the southern high water mark of Cowhead Creek approximately 5,600 feet in a westerly direction to its junction with French's Creek (also known as Frenchman's Creek);

Thence along the southern high water mark of French's Creek in a northerly and westerly direction approximately 8,300 feet to the monument known as French (North Carolina State Plane Coordinates X = 2,498,523.47, Y = 326,128.67);

Thence heading in a southerly direction towards New River Inlet where Camp Lejeune crosses the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway to the southern tip of Onslow Beach where the New River meets the Atlantic Ocean (New River Inlet);

Thence heading in a northeasterly direction for approximately 54,800 feet to Sanders Channel;

Thence heading southwesterly and then turning northerly where the boundary crosses the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway following the western boundary of Bear Creek until it meets Bear Creek Road;

Thence following the southern right‑of‑way boundary of Bear Creek Road until it meets NC Highway 172;

Thence following the western right‑of‑way boundary of NC Highway 172 in a northerly direction for approximately 20,350 feet until it intersects Starling Road;

Thence following the southern right‑of‑way of Starling Road in a westerly direction for approximately 1,735 feet until this meets the southern right‑of‑way of NC Highway 24;

Thence following the southern right‑of‑way of NC Highway 24 in a westerly direction for approximately 27,815 feet until it intersects with the beginning point and only containing those parcels/land owned by the United States of America.

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune – Greater Sandy Run Training Area

Beginning at the southwest right‑of‑way corner at the intersection of US Highway 17 and High Hill Road;

Thence following the western boundary of US Highway 17 in a southerly direction to the centerline of NC Highway 172;

Thence in a westerly straight‑line direction to the eastern boundary of NC Highway 50 at the centerline of Ottaway Avenue;

Thence in a northwesterly straight‑line direction to Padgett Road;

Thence following the southern boundary of Padgett Road to the intersection of Haws Run Road;

Thence following the southern boundary of Haws Run Road in an easterly direction to intersection of Dawsons Cabin Road;

Thence following the southern right‑of‑way boundary of Dawsons Cabin Road to High Hill Road;

Thence following the western right‑of‑way boundary of High Hill Road in a southerly direction to the beginning point and only containing those parcels/land owned by the United States of America.

Marine Corps Air Station New River, Marine Corps Special Operations Command at Stones Bay and the New River

Beginning at the monument Jarman located at New River Air Station at the junction of Southwest Creek with New River (NC Plane Coordinates X = 2,472,581.66, Y = 348,526.23);

Thence up the northern or main channel of Southwest Creek in a southerly and then northwesterly direction to the junction of the said creek with Rhodes Creek at a point immediately northwest of the old Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (New Bern Branch);

Thence up the meanders of Rhodes Creek and Richardson Branch in a northwesterly direction to its intersection with the eastern right‑of‑way line of US Highway 17;

Thence heading in a southerly direction following the eastern right‑of‑way boundary of US Highway 17 for approximately 42,970 feet to the northern corner point of PAR ID 028458 (Tax map parcel 757‑9);

Thence heading in a southerly direction for approximately 960 feet towards the southeastern most corner point of PAR ID 058282 (Tax map parcel 757‑9.1) which intersects with NC Highway 210 Right‑of‑way;

Thence following in an easterly direction the northern right‑of‑way boundary of NC Highway 210 for approximately 14,601 feet to the northwest corner point of PAR ID 041004 (Tax map parcel 765‑62.18);

Thence following the northwestern property boundary in a northeasterly direction to northeastern corner point of PAR ID 041004 where it abuts Everett Creek for approximately 6,090 feet;

Thence following Everett Creek in a southeasterly direction until it meets the New River;

Thence following the New River towards the NC Highway 172 Bridge in a northeasterly direction;

Thence following the centerline of NC Highway 172 to Pollocks Point;

Thence following the New River in a northerly direction towards Jacksonville to the monument known as French (North Carolina State Plane Coordinates X = 2,498,523.47, Y = 326,128.67);

Thence approximately 17,908 feet to Monument 371 USMC located on Hadnot Point (Hospital Point) (NC Plane Coordinates X = 2,487,613.10, Y = 340,329.81);

Thence north approximately 13,959 feet to the monument Paradise Eccentric located at Paradise Point (NC Plane Coordinates X = 2,482,316.56, Y = 353,245.56);

Thence crossing New River South approximately 10,819 feet to the beginning point, monument Jarman located at New River Air Station at the junction of Southwest Creek with New River (NC Plane Coordinates X = 2,472,581.66, Y = 348,526.23).

SECTION 1.(b)  This section shall not create or increase any right for a city to regulate or otherwise influence activities of the federal government or any activities and operations occurring in or on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River, or Marine Corps Special Operations Command at Stones Bay and the New River.

SECTION 1.(c)  This section becomes effective June 30, 2026. To the extent permitted under State and federal law, property in the territory described in this section as of January 1, 2026, is subject to municipal taxes for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2026.

SECTION 2.  Except as provided in this section, police officers of the City of Jacksonville shall exercise the power of arrest or any other powers invested to police officers in accordance with G.S. 15A‑402(c) and G.S. 160A‑286 only within 1 mile of the corporate limits of the City of Jacksonville that lies north of N.C. Highway 24. Police officers of the City of Jacksonville may transport a person in custody to or from any place within the State for the purpose of that person attending criminal court proceedings. While engaged in the transportation of persons for the purpose of attending criminal court proceedings, police officers of the City of Jacksonville may arrest persons at any place within the State for offenses occurring in connection with and incident to the transportation of persons in custody.

SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding Article 4A of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, the City of Jacksonville shall not annex any territory south of N.C. Highway 24.

SECTION 4.(a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 160D‑202, or any other provision of law, the City of Jacksonville shall not exercise any powers granted to cities in Chapter 160D of the General Statutes in any area beyond its contiguous corporate limits.

SECTION 4.(b)  The relinquishment of jurisdiction by the City of Jacksonville over the area beyond its contiguous corporate limits shall become effective on the date this section becomes law; provided, however, the City of Jacksonville's development regulations and powers of enforcement shall remain in effect in that area until the time provided in G.S. 160D‑202(h).

SECTION 5.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 6th day of August, 2026.

                                                                    s/  Rachel Hunt

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Mike Schietzelt

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives