A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO protect NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS by providing that THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM COORDINATES OF THEIR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS ARE not public recordS, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY AWARENESS STUDY COMMISSION.
Whereas, agriculture and agribusiness make up the largest industry in North Carolina at 67.4 billion dollars annually; and
Whereas, the Agriculture and Forestry Awareness Study Commission has heard compelling evidence that some groups have fraudulently reported environmental complaints about certain agricultural operations; and
Whereas, fraudulent complaints about agricultural operations create an unnecessary burden on both operators and regulatory authorities, thereby unnecessarily raising the cost of food, fiber, and forestry products; and
Whereas, these groups have publicized photographs and GPS coordinates of some agricultural operations where operators and their families live on the property without any compelling rationale for doing so; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 132 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 132‑1.23.  Agricultural operation GPS coordinates and aerial photographs.
(a)	Records in the custody of the State containing global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of an agricultural operation are not public records as defined by G.S. 132‑1.
(b)	Records in the custody of the State containing aerial photographs of an agricultural operation are not public records as defined by G.S. 132‑1."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.