GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 889
Short Title: Lumber River State Park Directives. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative B. Jones.
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
House
April 14, 2025
*H889 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATUR AL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES 2
TO ENTER INTO AN MOA FOR MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF CERTAIN 3
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND TO MOVE THE PARK HEADQUARTERS TO 4
THE TOWN OF FAIR BLUFF. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
SECTION 1. The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (Department) shall, 7
no later than March 1, 2026, negotiate a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Department 8
to (i) assume the management and operation of the River Walk, adjacent Park, and any associated 9
parking areas (collectively, the Facilities) in the Town of Fair Bluff (Town) as a unit of Lumber 10
River State Park (Park) and (ii) utilize the Town's Lumber River Visitors Center (Center) as the 11
Headquarters of the Park. The MOA shall include, at a minimum, the following: 12
(1) Delineation of the areas subject to the respective management of the Town 13
and the Department. The MOA may provide for shared management of 14
parking and other areas utilized for the River Walk, the Park, and the Center 15
and for other uses. 16
(2) The establishment, collection, and sharing of any user fees for property usage 17
and events operated at the Facilities and the Center. Nothing in this 18
subdivision is intended to (i) require the charging of admission to any property 19
or event or (ii) authorize the Department to charge an admission fee for use of 20
the Facilities or the Center other than during a festival or other special event 21
or as a rental fee for a private event. 22
(3) The adoption and enforcement of bylaws, rules, and guidelines needed for the 23
Department to carry out the management duties imposed by the MOA. 24
(4) The transfer or agreement on shared use, management, or implementation of 25
any assets, liabilities, contracts, or agreements between the Town and the 26
Department necessary to carry out the duties imposed on the Department and 27
Town by the MOA. Any delegation or transfer shall be made in accordance 28
with applicable law. 29
SECTION 2. The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources shall enter into the 30
Memorandum of Agreement required by Section 1 of this act no later than March 1, 2026, and 31
shall submit a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement to the Joint Legislative Oversight 32
Committee on Governmental Operations and the Fiscal Research Division prior to the convening 33
of the 2026 Regular Session of the 2025 General Assembly. 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 889-First Edition
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law. 1