NC S4

Creates a new Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement by consolidating the State Ethics Commission, State Board of Elections, and Secretary of State's lobbying enforcement functions into a single independent agency with eight members appointed equally by the Governor, General Assembly Speaker, and Senate President Pro Tempore.

Clarifies that the General Assembly has authority to remedy districting defects identified by courts before courts can impose interim plans, and explicitly prohibits the State Board of Elections from altering, amending, or substituting any apportionment or redistricting plans for state or local government.

Restores partisan elections for North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals justices by allowing them to run in party primaries, effective January 1, 2018.

Modifies appellate review procedures by allowing the Court of Appeals to sit en banc and requiring cases with dissents to be heard en banc before automatic appeals to the Supreme Court are effective.

Changes the term for Industrial Commission vice-chairpersons from annual to four-year designations starting December 30, 2016, and modifies vacancy appointment procedures to include remainder of unexpired term plus full six-year term.