WRITTEN BY HOLLY KAYS

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2022

Anew ruleallowing bear hunting in three Western North Carolina sanctuary areas currently off-limits to the practice might not take effect following an April 21 vote from the N.C. Rules Review Commission.

The Rules Review Commission received a barrage of letters requesting legislative review of the rule, with thepacketcollating those letters totaling 439 pages.State lawrequires legislative review for rules that receive 10 or more letters requesting it.

Rules sent for legislative review have delayed implementation dates and might end up not being enacted at all. According to state statute, the clock will start ticking when the N.C. General Assembly convenes for its short session on May 4. Legislators will have 31 days to file a bill specifically disproving the rule. If such a bill is filed in that timeframe, then the rule cannot become effective until…