North Carolina Sen. Johnson’s natural and cultural resources amendments bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Sen. Johnson aims to update statutes governing the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, including confidentiality protections for sensitive habitat data and operational changes for related agencies, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

In the House, 46 Democrats and 65 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 15 Democrats and 27 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Johnson filed the bill in the North Carolina Senate on March 25 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as SB 477, was passed on June 10 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “DNCR Agency Bill.-AB”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill makes various amendments to statutes governing the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. It introduces confidentiality for information about rare species and sensitive habitats, exempting such data from public disclosure if it poses a risk of harm. The department is also granted exemptions from rule-making procedures when developing visitor conduct standards. Lease terms for federal lands used as state recreation areas can be extended to 50 years. Additionally, the bill modernizes statutes related to historical publications and streamlines operations of the North Carolina Symphony Society by revising its statutory provisions. Free admission to department-managed sites for school groups is mandated, although fees for special exhibitions still apply. It repeals certain outdated reporting requirements and proposes deletions from the State Nature and Historic Preserve for specific land portions. These changes take effect immediately upon becoming law.

The bill was sponsored only by Sen. Todd Johnson (Republican-35th District).

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Johnson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2000 with a BA.

Johnson, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 35th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Tommy Tucker.