North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 143. State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions § 143-162.6. Use of ESG and ETI prohibited in employment decisions

(a) As used in this section, “environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria” or “economically targeted investments (ETI) requirements” means using a set of standards to screen potential investments based upon the perceived impact to the environment and the social relationships between a company's employees and the community.  The term also includes how a company's leadership is structured in support of those standards.

(b) No State agency, political subdivision of the State, trust, committee, or commission of any political subdivision of the State shall use, enforce, provide data for use in, or otherwise participate in the creation or use of ESG or ETI policies related to hiring, firing, or evaluating employees.

(c) Except as allowed by law, ESG, ETI, or related criteria shall not be considered in the awarding of State contracts.