Senate Bill 553 - Regulatory Reform Act of 2019

• Increases contract limits for public employees in small municipalities and counties: medical services threshold raised to $20,000 and other goods/services to $60,000 (previously $40,000) within 12-month periods, applicable to communities with populations under 15,000.

• Amends North Carolina Building and Plumbing Codes to eliminate requirements for drinking fountains, reduce water closet requirements, and remove service sink mandates for business occupancies with 30 or fewer occupants.

• Permits doorstep refuse collection containers in apartment exit corridors up to 15 gallons per unit with specified time limits (5-12 hours maximum) and requires written management policies for compliance; includes transition period through December 31, 2020.

• Removes Onslow and Rockingham Counties from vehicle emissions testing requirements effective January 1, 2020 (or later pending EPA approval of state implementation plan amendment).

• Establishes temporary event venue permitting process allowing cities and counties to authorize events up to 72 hours at existing buildings with inspection requirements covering structural stability, fire safety, and sanitation facilities.

• Creates comprehensive water and wastewater infrastructure reform including Viable Utility Reserve for grants to local government units, merger/dissolution procedures, and assessment criteria for distressed utility systems.