North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 5 R cosponsors

SB 505 — Address Abandoned and Derelict Vessels.

Last action — Withdrawn From Com

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 24% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    2 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

19 added · 20 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Senate Bill 505, specific language was added to clarify responsibilities related to abandoned vessels. The bill now emphasizes the communication requirements for federal, state, or local agencies regarding the removal of vessels, including the possibility of using telephone or email. These changes aim to streamline the process for addressing environmentally hazardous abandoned vessels and ensure timely action can be taken to prevent further issues. This matters because clearer communication protocols can help expedite the removal of dangerous vessels, ultimately protecting public safety and the environment.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Mar 25, 2025 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 505 Short Title:
505 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS45273-MH-38 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ADDRESS ABANDONED AND DERELICT VESSELS IN THE WATERS OF THE STATE.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ADDRESS ABANDONED AND DERELICT VESSELS IN THE WATERS OF THE STATE.
… (4b) "Unattended" means that the owner or operator of the vessel is not aboard or in the immediate vicinity of the vessel and has failed to respond to any posting or citation left on the vessel by a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction over the location of the vessel.
… (4b) "Unattended" means that the owner or operator of the vessel is not aboard or in the immediate vicinityof the vessel and has failed to respond to anyposting or citation left on the vessel by a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction over the location of the vessel.
*DRS45273-MH-38* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 …." SECTION 2.
*S505-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 …." SECTION 2.
– It is unlawful to dock, beach, or ground any vessel on public or private land beyond the 30-day period described in G.S.
– It is unlawful to dock, beach, or ground any vessel on public or private land beyond the 30-dayperiod described in G.S.
– The owner and operator of the vessel are jointly responsible for securing their vessel to prevent the vessel, or any part of contents of the vessel, from damaging public trust waters, associated or adjacent habitats, or the property of others, and persons with Page 2 DRS45273-MH-38 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 property damaged due to failure to meet the duty of care of this section may recover those damages from the owner or operator of the vessel improperly secured.
– The owner and operator of the vessel are jointly responsible for securing their vessel to prevent the vessel, or any part of contents of the vessel, from damaging public trust waters, associated or adjacent habitats, or the property of others, and persons with Page 2 Senate Bill 505-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 property damaged due to failure to meet the duty of care of this section may recover those damages from the owner or operator of the vessel improperly secured.
– When necessary, the Commission may act, authorize, or join in action with other agencies to immediately determine and abate any unsafe orenvironmentally hazardous conditions of abandoned vessels and,afterexpirationofthe30-day notice period specified in subsection (c) of this section, to tow, relocate, remove, or dispose of any vessel or take any other action reasonably necessary, and local governments with jurisdiction over the vessel through an ordinance adopted under the authority set forth in G.S.
– When necessary, the Commission may act, authorize, or join in action with other agencies to immediately determine and abate any unsafe orenvironmentallyhazardous conditions of abandoned vessels and,afterexpirationofthe30-day notice period specified in subsection (c) of this section, to tow, relocate, remove, or dispose of anyvessel or take anyother action reasonablynecessary, and local governments with jurisdiction over the vessel through an ordinance adopted under the authority set forth in G.S.
– In declared emergencies, the notification requirement of subsection (d) above may be satisfied by telephone or email communication from federal, State, orlocal agencies,andthe30-daydeadlinespecifiedin subsection (c)ofthis section shall be 15 days.
– In declared emergencies, the notification requirement of subsection (d) above maybe satisfied bytelephone or email communication from federal, State, orlocal agencies,andthe30-daydeadlinespecified in subsection (c)ofthis section shall be 15 days.
DRS45273-MH-38 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "§ 75A-56.
Senate Bill 505-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "§ 75A-56.
– Upon identifying a derelict vessel, the Commission shall post a notice on board the vessel and shall attempt to notify the owner by certified mail or personal delivery of notice, using information provided to theregistering Stateorfederal agency duringofficial vessel registration.
– Upon identifying a derelict vessel, the Commission shall post a notice on board the vessel and shall attempt to notify the owner by certified mail or personal delivery of notice, usinginformation provided to theregisteringStateor federal agencyduringofficialvessel registration.
(6) That failure to meet the 30-day deadline will result in the vessel being deemed abandoned and subject the owner to criminal penalties and liability for all costs associated with removal and disposition of the vessel and abatement of environmental impacts in the area surrounding the vessel.
(6) That failure to meet the 30-daydeadline will result in the vessel being deemed abandoned and subject the owner to criminal penalties and liability for all costs associated with removal and disposition of the vessel and abatement of environmental impacts in the area surrounding the vessel.
(c) Disposal.– Anyvessel, cargo,tackle,orequipment maybedisposed ofat any suitable solid waste facility permitted for such waste." SECTION 3.
(c) Disposal.
– Anyvessel, cargo,tackle,orequipment maybedisposed ofat anysuitable solid waste facility permitted for such waste." SECTION 3.
Page 4 DRS45273-MH-38
Page 4 Senate Bill 505-First Edition
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How this bill changes current law

9 changes Share ↗

Compared against the N.C. General Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill updates definitions related to abandoned and derelict vessels and establishes new regulations and enforcement powers for their removal and disposal.

  • G.S. 75A-2

    subdivision (1c), (1d), (1e), and (1f) → subdivisions (1e), (1f), (1g), and (1h)

    Recategorizes existing definitions to accommodate new definitions.

  • G.S. 75A-2

    "Abandoned vessel" means a vessel that has been relinquished, left, or given up by the lawful owner without the intention to later resume any right or interest in the vessel. → "Abandoned vessel" or "to abandon a vessel" means a the vessel that (i) is left moored, anchored, or otherwise located for more than 30 consecutive days on public lands, submerged lands, or waters of the State or on private property without written permission of the owner of the property where the vessel is moored, anchored, or otherwise located as set forth in Article 5 of this Chapter and (ii) has been relinquished, left, or given up by the lawful owner without the intention to later resume any right or interest in the vessel.

    Expands the definition of an abandoned vessel to include conditions related to location and permission.

  • G.S. 75A-2

    "Derelict vessel" means a vessel (i) left unattended and (ii) in a wrecked, junked, listing, sinking, inoperable, or dismantled condition or otherwise in significant disrepair or grounded such that the condition may affect the seaworthiness of the vessel or adversely affect the safety of the public or the environment.

    Introduces a new definition for a derelict vessel.

  • G.S. 75A-2

    "Unattended" means that the owner or operator of the vessel is not aboard or in the immediate vicinity of the vessel and has failed to respond to any posting or citation left on the vessel by a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction over the location of the vessel.

    Adds a definition of 'unattended' for clarity in enforcement.

  • G.S. 75A-50

    Article 5. Abandoned and Derelict Vessels.

    Establishes a new article outlining authority and procedures related to abandoned and derelict vessels.

  • G.S. 75A-50

    In addition to the enforcement powers set forth in G.S. 75A-17, wildlife protectors, inspectors, or other cooperating law enforcement officers with general enforcement jurisdiction and their contractors or agents are authorized to remove, relocate, cause to be removed or relocated, or dispose of any abandoned or derelict vessel.

    Grants additional authority to law enforcement for managing abandoned and derelict vessels.

  • G.S. 75A-54

    It shall be unlawful to cause a vessel to become abandoned in waters of the State or on public, private, or submerged land without permission of the property owner.

    Imposes a new prohibition against causing a vessel to become abandoned without permission.

  • G.S. 75A-54

    Upon identifying an abandoned vessel, the Commission shall post a notice on board the vessel and shall attempt to notify the owner by certified mail or personal delivery.

    Requires the Commission to notify vessel owners when an abandoned vessel is identified.

  • G.S. 75A-56

    Upon identifying a derelict vessel, the Commission shall post a notice on board the vessel and shall attempt to notify the owner by certified mail or personal delivery of notice.

    Establishes a new requirement for notifying owners of derelict vessels.

Action History

  1. Withdrawn From Com

  2. Re-ref to State and Local Government. If fav, re-ref to Judiciary. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Passed 1st Reading

  4. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  5. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 174 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (174)

174 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 174 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety environment transportation
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 505?
SB 505 is sponsored by Norman W. Sanderson (Republican), Tom McInnis (Republican), Michael A. Lazzara (Republican), Bobby Hanig (Republican), and Michael V. Lee (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 505?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 505?
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