House Bill 165 Summary

• North Carolina Department of Transportation shall study right-of-way acquisition and condemnation procedures for highway projects to improve collaboration with affected businesses and commercial property owners, with findings due within 180 days.

• Increases small project bidding threshold from $500,000 to $1,000,000 for both construction/repair and maintenance projects, allowing Board of Transportation to award contracts to lowest responsible bidder after receiving three informal bids from Small Business Enterprises.

• Authorizes commercial driver training schools certified by the Division of Motor Vehicles to administer road tests required for driver licensure, with successful test passage accepted by the Division as meeting licensure requirements.

• Allows owners of salvage vehicles to sign owner-retained salvage forms using electronic signatures complying with Article 40 of Chapter 66, eliminating the notarization requirement.

• Permits City of Durham charter schools meeting specific criteria (chartered before 2005, multi-campus, year-round schedule) to use on-street right-of-way for temporary vehicle stacking to load and unload students during campus relocation, renovation, or expansion.