Bill
HB 273
DNCR is authorized to create and fund the Brushy Mountains State Natural Area, enabling land acquisition and development with a $500,000 FY2025–26 appropriation and ongoing managem
Status and key dates
- Bill title: Create and Fund the Brushy Mountains State Natural Area (BMSNA).
- Primary sponsor: Representative Eddins.
- Jurisdiction: North Carolina. Affects Alexander, Caldwell, and Wilkes counties.
- Introduced (filed): March 4, 2025. (Legislative history in the file shows multiple committee referrals.)
- Effective dates: Funding provision (Section 2) becomes effective July 1, 2025; the remainder becomes effective upon enactment.
Purpose and intent
- Authorize the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) to establish the Brushy Mountains State Natural Area and add it to the State Parks System, with the aim of conserving land and providing public natural-resource and recreation benefits in Alexander, Caldwell, and Wilkes counties.
Main provisions
- Authorization: DNCR may create Brushy Mountains State Natural Area (BMSNA) and add it to the State Parks System under G.S. 143B-135.54(b).
- Land acquisition: The State may accept donated lands and may purchase necessary parcels for BMSNA. Purchases may be funded using: the NC Land and Water Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and other available funding sources.
- Appropriation (FY 2025–2026): $500,000 total from the General Fund, allocated as:
- $250,000 nonrecurring (one-time) and
- $250,000 recurring
These funds are earmarked for initial land acquisition, site development, and associated operating costs for BMSNA.
- Administrative authority: DNCR will manage acquisition and development consistent with the State Parks System authority.
Who is affected
- North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources — program creation, land acquisition and ongoing site operations.
- Residents and visitors of Alexander, Caldwell, and Wilkes counties — potential new public natural area and recreational opportunities.
- Landowners/donors — potential to donate land for conservation; sellers for purchases funded by the State and specified sources.
- Funding programs (NC Land & Water Fund, PARTF, LWCF) — potential sources for acquisitions.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Conservation and recreation: Establishing BMSNA preserves natural spaces and can expand outdoor recreation, education, and tourism in the three counties.
- Fiscal: The bill provides an initial $500,000 (half recurring) in FY 2025–26; additional funding may be needed for larger-scale acquisitions or long‑term management. Use of federal and existing trust funds could leverage acquisitions.
- Local economies: Potential modest positive economic effects from increased visitation and related spending.
- Implementation: DNCR will need to sequence land acceptance/purchases and site development; coordination with federal and local funding sources may be required.
Procedural notes
- The bill text authorizes DNCR action and provides the specific appropriation and effective-date language. Legislative history in the packet documents multiple readings and committee referrals; user-provided status lists the bill as "Passed 1st Reading."
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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