S.B. 16 - Business Regulatory Reform Act of 2017

• Requires agencies and the Office of Administrative Hearings to distribute rule-making petitions within three business days of receipt via mailing list and website, effective January 1, 2018.

• Expands Wildlife Resources Commission disclosure protections to include information transferred from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regarding regulated products.

• Authorizes Environmental Management Commission to review and assess reports prepared by the Department of Environmental Quality that are required by law and have significant public interest.

• Allows bed and breakfast homes and inns to offer optional lunch and dinner meals in addition to breakfast, with additional meal prices charged separately from room rates, effective January 1, 2018.

• Modifies alarm systems business licensing requirements to clarify which employees must be registered and removes the residency requirement for qualifying agents.

• Eliminates state acceptance inspections and additional testing requirements for electrical equipment and appliances purchased by state departments and agencies.

• Authorizes private condemnation of land for pipelines and mains originating outside North Carolina for transportation of petroleum products, coal, gas, limestone, or minerals.

• Clarifies stormwater control requirements to apply only to new impervious surface area that exceeds pre-redevelopment levels, and increases coastal residential project threshold to 10,000 square feet before requiring state stormwater permits.

• Establishes codified Carolina Star voluntary workplace safety program with four distinct programs and exempts participants from safety inspections except for complaints, fatalities, or catastrophes.

• Modifies landfill life-of-site permits to cap duration at 60 years and allows counties to extend franchise terms without triggering new permit requirements.