North Carolina requires water safety rescue equipment at public docks and appropriates $25,000 for compliance

Original title: Reduce Drowning Risk/Public Docks.

Last action · April 10, 2025: Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Beth Gardner Helfrich and 21 others

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What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina requires state agencies and local governments to install weather-protected ring life buoys and other rescue devices at public piers and water access facilities, effective upon becoming law with funding taking effect July 1, 2025.

Why it matters

State agencies, local governments, and the Wildlife Resources Commission must spend resources to install, maintain, and provide public education on life-saving equipment at public water access points.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

State agencies and units of local government

Owners and operators of public water access facilities must install, maintain, and provide education on public rescue equipment.

Directly affected

Wildlife Resources Commission

Receives an appropriation of $25,000 to comply with the act and distribute grants to tier one local governments.

Directly affected

General public

Gains access to emergency water rescue devices and signage at public piers and access points.

Key Facts

State agencies, the Wildlife Resources Commission, and units of local government must install public rescue equipment, including ring life buoys, at all public piers and covered water access facilities.
Ring life buoys must not be permanently secured to stations, racks, or piers, and must be housed in bright orange or yellow high-visibility stations protected from weather exposure.
Each ring life buoy must be attached to a buoyant line of at least 100 feet with a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons, with the end unsecured to shore or pier.
Ring life buoys must meet United States Coast Guard standards under 46 C.F.R. Part 160 and be marked with type II retroreflective material.

Show all 9 facts

At access points, ring life buoys must be placed within 200 feet of the shoreline, and piers must feature ring life buoys accompanied by appropriate signage.
Facility owners or operators are responsible for equipment installation, maintenance, and public education.
The bill appropriates $25,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year from the General Fund to the Wildlife Resources Commission.
Grants of no more than $500 are authorized for local government units located in economic tier one areas to assist with compliance.
Section 2 of the act becomes effective July 1, 2025, while the remainder of the act takes effect when it becomes law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for installing and maintaining the water rescue equipment?

The owner or operator of the —which includes state agencies, the Commission, or units of local government—is responsible for installation, maintenance, and public education.

What specific equipment is required at public docks?

Facilities must install public rescue devices including ring life buoys that meet specific United States Coast Guard standards, housed in high-visibility stations with a buoyant line of at least 100 feet.

Is financial assistance available for local governments?

Yes, the bill appropriates $25,000 to the Wildlife Resources Commission to provide grants of up to $500 to local government units located in .

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

3 actions

Apr 10, 2025House
Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 10, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Apr 9, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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