Sen. Lazzara files bill in North Carolina Senate revising dam emergency plans

A new bill filed by State Sen. Lazzara seeks to update emergency action plan requirements for dam owners to improve safety and communication with local agencies, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 614 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Revise Dam Safety Requirements.’

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

In essence, this bill revises the emergency action plan requirements for high-hazard and intermediate-hazard dams in North Carolina. It mandates that dam owners submit a proposed emergency action plan within 90 days of classification, including descriptions of potential emergencies, response actions, and notification procedures for effective evacuations. A downstream inundation map is required unless the dam is small, but it does not need to be prepared by a licensed engineer unless linked to coal combustion residuals. Plans must be updated annually and shared with the relevant governmental departments and local emergency management agencies. Sensitive security information within plans is to remain confidential. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, impacting plans submitted or updated from that date.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Todd Johnson proposed the most bills (49) during the 2025 regular session.

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.

Lazzara, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2021 to represent the state’s 6th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Harry Brown.