NC S697

Codifies the Lake Norman Marine Commission into Chapter 77 of the General Statutes, reconstituting the body originally established under 1969 Session Laws to govern Lake Norman across Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg Counties

Restructures the Commission's governing board to nine commissioners with five-year terms, requiring appointees to have qualifications in areas such as boater safety, water quality, law enforcement, or lakefront residency, with no more than 35% residing in the same county

Establishes conflict of interest requirements prohibiting commissioners from owning controlling interests in Lake Norman-dependent businesses and requiring annual written disclosure statements posted publicly by January 31

Authorizes the Commission to make regulations for public recreation and water safety, assess fees for education/training services and facility use, and request the Department of Environmental Quality add species to the Aquatic Weed Control Program

Requires each district court district including one of the four counties to assign a magistrate with primary responsibility for adjudicating Commission-related matters, with offices located in Huntersville, Cornelius, or Davidson and available at least eight business days monthly