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Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2026-04-28

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill directs the North Carolina Collaboratory at UNC Chapel Hill to study microplastics (tiny plastic particles) in North Carolina's waterways and develop strategies to reduce their harmful impacts. The Collaboratory will research where microplastics come from, how they affect ecosystems and human health, and recommend policy solutions, with a comprehensive report due by July 1, 2027. The bill provides $150,000 in funding for this research.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that microplastics are a serious and growing pollution problem in North Carolina's waters that threatens aquatic life, biodiversity, and potentially human health through contaminated drinking water and seafood.
• •They contend that this study is necessary to understand the full scope of the problem and develop effective solutions, and that the $150,000 investment is reasonable for gathering scientific evidence to guide future environmental policies and protection measures.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue that the state should focus resources on more immediate or proven environmental priorities, or question whether $150,000 is sufficient for a comprehensive statewide study.
• •Some may be concerned about the potential for costly regulations that could follow the study's recommendations, or believe that microplastics research is better suited to federal agencies or that voluntary industry efforts are more effective than government intervention.