A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to deannex certain described territories; to annex certain described territories; and to make other changes to various local laws.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

TOWN OF ANDREWS DEANNEXATION
SECTION 1.(a)  The following described property is removed from the corporate limits of the Town of Andrews:
Tract 1 of Parcel 2 as described in Exhibit A in the North Carolina General Warranty Deed filed with the Cherokee County Register of Deeds, Book 1426, Page 1017.
SECTION 1.(b)  This section has no effect upon the validity of any liens of the Town of Andrews for ad valorem taxes or special assessments outstanding before the effective date of this section. Such liens may be collected or foreclosed upon after the effective date of this section as though the property were still within the corporate limits of the Town of Andrews.
SECTION 1.(c)  This section becomes effective June 30, 2024. Property in the territory described in this section as of January 1, 2024, is no longer subject to municipal taxes for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2024.

CITY OF ASHEVILLE DEANNEXATION
SECTION 2.(a)  The following described property, identified by Buncombe County Tax Property Identification Numbers, is removed from the corporate limits of the City of Asheville: 965444585500000 and 965444792300000.
SECTION 2.(b)  This section has no effect upon the validity of any liens of the City of Asheville for ad valorem taxes or special assessments outstanding before the effective date of this section. Such liens may be collected or foreclosed upon after the effective date of this section as though the property were still within the corporate limits of the City of Asheville.
SECTION 2.(c)  This section becomes effective June 30, 2024. Property in the territory described in this section as of January 1, 2024, is no longer subject to municipal taxes for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2024.

TOWN OF BEAUFORT LEASES
SECTION 3.(a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 160A‑272, the Town of Beaufort may lease any or all of the real property owned by the Town or under the control of the Town, together with all littoral and riparian rights appurtenant thereto, in the area south of Front Street to Taylor Creek, upon such terms and conditions as the Town's Board of Commissioners may determine, for longer than 10 years as long as it follows the requirements of G.S. 160A‑272 for leases of 10 years or less if the Town's Board of Commissioners determines that the real property will not be needed by the Town for the term of the lease.
SECTION 3.(b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 160A‑272, the Town of Beaufort may renew or extend any lease entered into under subsection (a) of this section for periods longer than 10 years as long as it follows the requirements of G.S. 160A‑272 for leases of 10 years or less if the Town's Board of Commissioners determines that the real property will not be needed by the Town for the term of the renewal or extension.
SECTION 3.(c)  Chapter 371 of the 1979 Session Laws is repealed.
SECTION 3.(d)  Chapter 100 of the 1983 Session Laws is repealed.
SECTION 3.(e)  Section 2 of Chapter 1199 of the 1981 Session Laws shall not apply to any real property described in subsection (a) of this section.
SECTION 3.(f)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to property owned, acquired, or controlled on or after that date and to leases entered into or renewed or extended on or after that date.

CITY OF BOILING SPRING LAKES DEANNEXATIONS
SECTION 4.(a)  The following described properties are removed from the corporate limits of the City of Boiling Spring Lakes, as identified by Brunswick County Parcel Identification Numbers: 208915742849, 208916838833, 208916846076, 208916930807, 217012868467, and 11300039. Parcel 11300039 is further described as: Being all of Lot 47, Section 24, pursuant to a map titled "Boiling Spring Lakes, Section 24, Investment Tracts", as prepared by Gerrit C. Greer, Reg. Land Surveyor, said map being recorded in Book G of Maps at Page 111, Brunswick County Registry.
SECTION 4.(b)  This section has no effect upon the validity of any liens of the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for ad valorem taxes or special assessments outstanding before the effective date of this section. Such liens may be collected or foreclosed upon after the effective date of this section as though the property were still within the corporate limits of the City of Boiling Spring Lakes.
SECTION 4.(c)  The property in the territory described in this section shall not be subject to the extraterritorial powers of any municipality.
SECTION 4.(d)  This section becomes effective June 30, 2024. Property in the territory described in this section as of January 1, 2024, is no longer subject to municipal taxes for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2024.

TOWN OF EDENTON ANNEXATION
SECTION 5.(a)  The following described property is added to the corporate limits of the Town of Edenton:
TRACT I
Being that 141.83 Acre tract as shown on "A SURVEY AND PLAT FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA – FIRST TOWNSHIP – CHOWAN COUNTY – NORTH CAROLINA" by Josiah A. Webb, III, Professional Land Surveyor, dated June 3, 2022, and recorded in Plat Cabinet 3, Slide 6I, Chowan County Registry.
TRACT II
Being that 1.13 Acre tract labeled PARCEL ONE as shown on "A SURVEY AND PLAT FOR THE CONSERVATION FUND – FIRST TOWNSHIP – CHOWAN COUNTY – NORTH CAROLINA" by Josiah A. Webb, III, Professional Land Surveyor, dated January 27, 2022, and recorded in Plat Cabinet 3, Slide 4H, Chowan County Registry.
TRACT III
Being that 19.06 Acre tract labeled PARCEL TWO as shown on "A SURVEY AND PLAT FOR THE CONSERVATION FUND – FIRST TOWNSHIP – CHOWAN COUNTY – NORTH CAROLINA" by Josiah A. Webb, III, Professional Land Surveyor, dated January 27, 2022, and recorded in Plat Cabinet 3, Slide 4H, Chowan County Registry.
TRACT IV
Being that 1.76 Acre tract labeled PARCEL ONE as shown on "A SURVEY AND PLAT FOR THE CONSERVATION FUND – FIRST TOWNSHIP – CHOWAN COUNTY – NORTH CAROLINA" by Josiah A. Webb, III, Professional Land Surveyor, dated October 5, 2021, and recorded in Plat Cabinet 3, Slide 3A, Chowan County Registry.
TRACT V
Being that 8.05 Acre tract labeled PARCEL TWO as shown on "A SURVEY AND PLAT FOR THE CONSERVATION FUND – FIRST TOWNSHIP – CHOWAN COUNTY – NORTH CAROLINA" by Josiah A. Webb, III, Professional Land Surveyor, dated October 5, 2021, and recorded in Plat Cabinet 3, Slide 3A, Chowan County Registry.
TRACT VI
Being that 17.16 Acre tract labeled PARCEL THREE as shown on "A SURVEY AND PLAT FOR THE CONSERVATION FUND – FIRST TOWNSHIP – CHOWAN COUNTY – NORTH CAROLINA" by Josiah A. Webb, III, Professional Land Surveyor, dated October 5, 2021, and recorded in Plat Cabinet 3, Slide 3A, Chowan County Registry.
TRACT VII
Being that 5.10 Acre tract shown on "A SURVEY AND PLAT FOR THE CONSERVATION FUND – FIRST TOWNSHIP – CHOWAN COUNTY – NORTH CAROLINA" by Josiah A. Webb, III, Professional Land Surveyor, dated October 5, 2021, and recorded in Plat Cabinet 3, Slide 3B, Chowan County Registry.
SECTION 5.(b)  This section becomes effective June 30, 2024. Property in the territory described in this section as of January 1, 2024, is subject to municipal taxes for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2024.

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE VACANCIES
SECTION 6.(a)  Notwithstanding Section 3.3 of the Charter of the City of Hendersonville, being Chapter 874 of the 1971 Session Laws, as amended by S.L. 2016‑15, and G.S. 160A‑63, the following shall apply to vacancies on the City Council of Hendersonville:
(1)	Any vacancy in the office of Mayor shall be filled by majority vote of the members of the City Council from the membership of the City Council. The successor shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
(2)	Any vacancy in the office of City Council shall be filled by majority vote of the Mayor and the remaining members of the City Council. The successor shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
SECTION 6.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to any vacancy occurring on or after that date and before the organizational meeting of the City Council following the municipal election for the City of Hendersonville in 2026.

TOWN OF LAUREL PARK SATELLITE ANNEXATION CAP REMOVAL
SECTION 7.  G.S. 160A‑58.1(b)(5) reads as rewritten:
"(5)	The area within the proposed satellite corporate limits, when added to the area within all other satellite corporate limits, may not exceed ten percent (10%) of the area within the primary corporate limits of the annexing city.
This subdivision does not apply to the Cities of Archdale, Asheboro, Belmont, Claremont, Concord, Conover, Durham, Elizabeth City, Gastonia, Greenville, Hickory, Kannapolis, Kings Mountain, Locust, Lowell, Marion, Mount Airy, Mount Holly, New Bern, Newton, Oxford, Randleman, Roanoke Rapids, Rockingham, Saluda, Sanford, Salisbury, Shelby, Southport, Statesville, and Washington and the Towns of Ahoskie, Angier, Apex, Ayden, Belville, Benson, Bladenboro, Bridgeton, Bunn, Burgaw, Calabash, Carthage, Catawba, China Grove, Clayton, Columbia, Columbus, Cramerton, Creswell, Dallas, Dobson, Four Oaks, Franklin, Franklinton, Franklinville, Fuquay‑Varina, Garner, Godwin, Goldston, Granite Quarry, Green Level, Grimesland, Harrisburg, Holly Ridge, Holly Springs, Hookerton, Hope Mills, Huntersville, Jamestown, Kenansville, Kenly, Knightdale, Landis, Laurel Park, Liberty, Lillington, Louisburg, Maggie Valley, Maiden, Mayodan, Maysville, Middlesex, Midland, Mocksville, Morrisville, Mount Pleasant, Nashville, North Wilkesboro, Norwood, Oak Island, Oakboro, Ocean Isle Beach, Pembroke, Pine Level, Pollocksville, Princeton, Ramseur, Ranlo, Richlands, Rockwell, Rolesville, Rutherfordton, Shallotte, Siler City, Smithfield, Spencer, Spring Lake, Stanley, Stem, Stovall, Surf City, Swansboro, Taylorsville, Troutman, Troy, Vass, Wallace, Warsaw, Watha, Waynesville, Weldon, Wendell, West Jefferson, Wilson's Mills, Windsor, Wingate, Yadkinville, Youngsville, and Zebulon."

TOWN OF NEWPORT DEANNEXATION
SECTION 8.(a)  The following described property, identified by Carteret County Parcel Identification Number, is removed from the corporate limits of the Town of Newport: 633920716415000.
SECTION 8.(b)  This section has no effect upon the validity of any liens of the Town of Newport for ad valorem taxes or special assessments outstanding before the effective date of this section. Such liens may be collected or foreclosed upon after the effective date of this section as though the property were still within the corporate limits of the Town of Newport.
SECTION 8.(c)  This section becomes effective June 30, 2024. Property in the territory described in this section as of January 1, 2024, is no longer subject to municipal taxes for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2024.

TOWN OF NORTHWEST RESIDENCY DISTRICTS
SECTION 9.(a)  Section 3.2 of the Charter of the City of Northwest, being Chapter 222 of the 1993 Session Laws, is recodified as Section 4.2 of the Charter of the City of Northwest.
SECTION 9.(b)  Chapter IV of the Charter of the City of Northwest, being Chapter 222 of the 1993 Session Laws, as amended by Section 1(a) of this act, reads as rewritten:
"CHAPTER IV.
"ELECTIONS.
"Sec. 4.1.  Conduct of Town Elections.  The Town officers shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis, and the results determined by plurality as provided in G.S. 163‑292. Elections shall be conducted by the Brunswick County Board of Elections.
"Sec. 4.2.  Manner of Electing Council.  The qualified voters of the entire City elect the members of the Council. To be eligible for election, a candidate must reside in the district for which that person is seeking election.
"Sec. 4.3.  Residency Districts.  For the purpose of conducting elections, the City shall be divided into geographical subdivisions known as residency districts. Districts 1, 2, and 4 shall be single‑member districts, and District 3 shall be a two‑member district. The residency districts may be revised by the Council from time to time."
SECTION 9.(c)  Section 3.3 of the Charter of the City of Northwest, being Chapter 222 of the 1993 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 3.3. Term of Office of Council Members. Members of the Council are elected to four‑year staggered terms."
SECTION 9.(d)  Nothing in this section shall affect the terms of office of any person elected in 2021 or 2023 to the Council of the City of Northwest who shall continue to hold at‑large positions on the Council until the end of their term or a vacancy occurs due to resignation or other causes.
SECTION 9.(e)  In 2025 and quadrennially thereafter, three members of the Council of the City of Northwest shall be elected, one member from each of Districts 1, 2, and 4, for four‑year terms. In 2027 and quadrennially thereafter, two members of the Council of the City of Northwest shall be elected from District 3 for four‑year terms.
SECTION 9.(f)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.

CITY OF SOUTHPORT ETJ
SECTION 10.(a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 160D‑202(a), the City of Southport shall not exercise any of the powers granted to cities under Chapter 160D of the General Statutes or its predecessor, Article 19 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, beyond its contiguous corporate limits.
SECTION 10.(b)  The relinquishment of jurisdiction over an area that the City of Southport is regulating under the authority of Chapter 160D of the General Statutes or its predecessor, Article 19 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, shall become effective July 1, 2024.
SECTION 10.(c)  Upon relinquishment of jurisdiction over an area that the City of Southport is regulating under the authority of Chapter 160D of the General Statutes or its predecessor, Article 19 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, the following shall apply:
(1)	The City's regulations and powers of enforcement shall remain in effect until (i) Brunswick County has adopted the regulation or (ii) a period of 60 days has elapsed following July 1, 2024, the date the relinquishment becomes effective, whichever is sooner. Prior to the transfer of jurisdiction, Brunswick County may hold hearings and take other measures consistent with G.S. 160D‑204 that may be required in order to adopt and apply its development regulations for the area at the same time it assumes jurisdiction.
(2)	Any person who has acquired vested rights in the City of Southport may exercise those rights as if no change of jurisdiction had occurred. Brunswick County, in acquiring jurisdiction over the area, may take any action regarding the development approval, certificate, or other evidence of compliance that could have been taken by the City of Southport pursuant to its development regulations. Except as provided in this subdivision, any building, structure, or other land use in an area over which Brunswick County has acquired jurisdiction is subject to the development regulations of Brunswick County.

BEAUFORT COUNTY LOCAL MATTERS
SECTION 11.(a)  Section 2 of S.L. 2022‑34 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 2.  The Airport Authority shall consist of seven members appointed as provided in this section to serve staggered three‑year terms. Each member shall take and subscribe an oath of office before the Clerk of Superior Court of Beaufort County and file the same with the clerk to the board of the Beaufort County Commissioners and the clerk to the board of the Washington City Council. Members of the Airport Authority may be appointed to one or more successive terms by the appointing authority. The appointing authority shall fill any vacancies arising on the Airport Authority. Members of the Airport Authority shall be appointed as follows:
(1)	One member appointed by the Washington City Council who shall be a registered voter of the City of Washington with aviation or drone experience or business management expertise.
(2)	One member appointed by the Beaufort County Commissioners who shall be a registered voter of the County of Beaufort and of the City of Washington with business management or financial expertise.
(3)	Two members appointed by the Beaufort County Commissioners who shall be registered voters of the County of Beaufort and not of the City of Washington with aviation or drone experience.
(4)	
	Three members who shall be registered voters of the County of Beaufort selected and appointed by the remaining members of the Airport Authority."
SECTION 11.(b)  The terms of all current members of the Washington‑Warren Airport Authority shall expire October 1, 2024. Upon the expiration of those terms, appointments shall be promptly made to the Airport Authority as provided in Section 2 of S.L. 2022‑34, as amended by this act, and, after establishing the staggered terms, all terms of office shall be for three years as provided in Section 2 of S.L. 2022‑34, as amended by this act. If an appointing authority fails to make an initial appointment under subdivisions (1) through (3) of Section 2 of S.L. 2022‑34, as amended by this act, by October 31, 2024, and the number of vacancies on the board is such that a quorum of the board cannot be obtained, the Clerk of Superior Court of Beaufort County may fill the vacancies upon the request of any remaining member of the Airport Authority. To implement staggering of the terms, the following shall apply:
(1)	The member appointed by the Washington City Council shall serve a two‑year term.
(2)	One of the members appointed by the Beaufort County Commissioners shall serve a two‑year term. One of the members appointed by the Beaufort County Commissioners shall serve a three‑year term. One of the members appointed by the Beaufort County Commissioners shall serve a four‑year term.
(3)	One of the members selected and appointed by the remaining members of the Airport Authority shall serve a two‑year term. One of the members selected and appointed by the remaining members of the Airport Authority shall serve a three‑year term. One of the members selected and appointed by the remaining members of the Airport Authority shall serve a four‑year term.
SECTION 11.(c)  Section 16 of S.L. 2022‑34 is repealed.

CURRITUCK COUNTY EMINENT DOMAIN
SECTION 12.(a)  G.S. 40A‑3(b1) reads as rewritten:
"(b1)	Local Public Condemnors – Modified Provision for Certain Localities. – For the public use or benefit, the governing body of each municipality or county shall possess the power of eminent domain and may acquire by purchase, gift or condemnation any property or interest therein, either inside or outside its boundaries, for the following purposes:
…
The board of education of any municipality or county or a combined board may exercise the power of eminent domain under this Chapter for purposes authorized by Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.
The power of eminent domain shall be exercised by local public condemnors under the procedures of Article 3 of this chapter.
This subsection applies only to Carteret and Dare Counties, the Towns of Atlantic Beach, Carolina Beach, Caswell Beach, Emerald Isle, Holden Beach, Indian Beach, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Kure Beach, Nags Head, North Topsail Beach, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Sunset Beach, Surf City, Topsail Beach, and Wrightsville Beach, and the Village of Bald Head Island. This subsection, excluding subdivision (11) of this subsection, applies to Currituck County and the Towns of Duck and Southern Shores."
SECTION 12.(b)  G.S. 40A‑42(a)(2) reads as rewritten:
"(2)	Modified Provision for Certain Localities. – When a local public condemnor is acquiring property by condemnation for a purpose set out in G.S. 40A‑3(b1)(1), (4), (7), (10), or (11), or when a city is acquiring property for a purpose set out in G.S. 160A‑311(1), (2), (3), (4), (6), or (7), or when a county is acquiring property for a purpose set out in G.S. 153A‑274(1), (2) or (3), or when a local board of education or any combination of local boards of education is acquiring property for any purpose set forth in G.S. 115C‑517, or when a condemnor is acquiring property by condemnation as authorized by G.S. 40A‑3(c)(8), (9), (10), (12), or (13) title to the property and the right to immediate possession shall vest pursuant to this subsection. Unless an action for injunctive relief has been initiated, title to the property specified in the complaint, together with the right to immediate possession thereof, shall vest in the condemnor upon the filing of the complaint and the making of the deposit in accordance with G.S. 40A‑41.
This subdivision applies only to Carteret, Currituck, and Dare Counties, the Towns of Atlantic Beach, Carolina Beach, Caswell Beach, Duck, Emerald Isle, Holden Beach, Indian Beach, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Kure Beach, Nags Head, North Topsail Beach, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Southern Shores, Sunset Beach, Surf City, Topsail Beach, and Wrightsville Beach, and the Village of Bald Head Island."

EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 13.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.