S257 - 2026 Appropriations Act. (SL 2026-41)

Session Year 2024

Overview: Section 14.9 of S.L. 2026-41 (Senate Bill 257) provides that certain funds appropriated to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (Department) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year for Complete the Trails Grants must be allocated to the Complete the Trails Fund for planning, construction, promotion, and maintenance of component trails of the North Carolina Trails System. The Department must report annually no later than October 1 on the use of funds allocated by this section.

Funds provided to the Complete the Trails Fund must be used to provide grants to eligible entities for eligible trail projects. Eligible entities include counties, municipalities, regional councils of government, public authorities, and certain nonprofit entities with which the Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Eligible trail projects include (i) planning, design, and related environmental assessment or permitting activities for trails, (ii) land and easement acquisition for trails, (iii) construction of trails and trail structures, (iv) trail amenities, (v) certain maintenance activities, and (iv) matching funds for grants awarded by non-State sources for the purpose of other eligible trail projects.

This section became effective July 1, 2026.

Additional Information: