Summary of Session Law 2015-144 (House Bill 640)

• Establishes the North Carolina Outdoor Heritage Trust Fund for youth outdoor activities with funding through check-off donations (up to $2.00) and private donations, to be administered by a new Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council.

• Creates an 11-member Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council with appointments by legislative leadership (6 members), the Governor (3 members), the Commissioner of Agriculture (1 member), and the Wildlife Resources Commission chair (1 member).

• Authorizes landowners and authorized persons to hunt with firearms on private property on Sundays, except during 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M., within 500 yards of places of worship or non-owner residences, or in counties with populations exceeding 700,000.

• Adds a "three strikes" rule making a third or subsequent violation of hunting on posted property without permission a 2-year hunting privilege suspension offense.

• Directs the Legislative Research Commission to study public land access for outdoor recreation and the Wildlife Resources Commission to review hunting negligence suspension provisions; defines cub bears as weighing less than 75 pounds and prohibits using dogs to hunt foxes from March 15 to July 15 in Bladen Lakes State Forest Game Land.