Sen. Lee files bill in North Carolina Senate to manage abandoned vessels

A new bill filed by State Sen. Michael V. Lee seeks to address abandoned and derelict vessels by establishing procedures and authority for their removal and disposal in North Carolina waters, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 505 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Address Abandoned and Derelict Vessels.’

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

In essence, this bill aims to address the issue of abandoned and derelict vessels within the waters of North Carolina by establishing authority and procedures for their removal, relocation, and disposal. It grants law enforcement officers the power to handle such vessels, and the North Carolina Commission is authorized to use staff and equipment or contract with private agents or government bodies for these tasks. The legislation specifies that a vessel is considered abandoned if left moored without permission for over 30 days, while a derelict vessel is one left unattended in disrepair, impacting safety or the environment. The bill outlines procedures for notifying vessel owners, restrictions on anchoring and docking, and the imposition of civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance. Exceptions are made for emergencies and historic shipwrecks under state custody. The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Bobby Hanig proposed the most bills (57) 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.

Lee graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991 with a BA and again in 1997 from Wake Forest University Law School with a JD.

Lee, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 7th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Jim Perry.