North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 143B. Executive Organization Act of 1973 § 143B-279.19. Quadriennial adjustment of certain fees and rates

(a) Adjustment for Legislatively Mandated Salaries and Benefits.--Beginning July 1, 2025, and every four years thereafter, the Department shall adjust the fees and rates imposed pursuant to the statutes listed in this subsection in accordance with the Consumer Price Index computed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics during the prior two bienniums.  The adjustment for per transaction rates shall be rounded to the nearest dollar ($1.00):

(b) Rulemaking Exemption.--The fee adjustments required by this section are not subject to the requirements of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.

(c) Consultation and Publication.--Notwithstanding any provision of G.S. 12-3.1 to the contrary, prior to implementing an adjustment pursuant to subsection (a) of this section the Department must, no later than 90 days prior to the end of the fiscal biennium, (i) consult with the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, (ii) report the proposed fee adjustments to the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources, the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division, and (iii) publish notice of the fees that will be in effect in the offices of the Department and on the Department's website.  After making the adjustment, the Department shall notify the Revisor of Statutes, who shall adjust the amounts in statute.

(d) Effective Date;  Grandfathering.--Any adjustment to fees or rates under this section applicable to an application or request for a permit, certification, or other Department approval submitted to the Department is only applicable to an application or request for a permit, certification, or other Department approval submitted to the Department on or after the effective date of the fee or rate adjustment.  No adjustment to fees or rates under this section applies to an application or request for a permit, certification, or other Department approval submitted to the Department prior to the effective date of the fee or rate adjustment.