NC H532

Authorizes the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to add the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail as a State trail, spanning counties in western North Carolina from Avery to Surry, recognizing its significance to Revolutionary War history dating to the 1780 Battle of Kings Mountain.

Authorizes the Wilderness Gateway Trail as a State trail and directs the Division of Parks and Recreation to study feasibility of connecting the Town of Valdese, City of Hickory, the Overmountain Victory State Trail, and natural areas in Burke and Catawba counties, with findings due to the Environmental Review Commission by December 1, 2019.

Clarifies that neither the Overmountain Victory State Trail nor the Wilderness Gateway State Trail require adequate appropriations for land acquisition and development, but permits the State to receive donations and purchase lands using existing funds from conservation trust funds and federal sources.

Makes technical and conforming changes to the State Parks Act and North Carolina Trails System Act, updating terminology, clarifying State trail definitions, and modifying trail designation and publication procedures to include online posting and courthouse posting.

Transfers authority to administer the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund from the Department of Environmental Quality to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, designating the Director of Parks and Recreation to oversee this funding.