(a) The State Board of Agriculture, upon a petition being filed with it so requesting and signed by the governing boards of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, the North Carolina State Grange, and the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., shall examine such petition and upon finding that it complies with the provisions of this Article shall authorize the holding of a referendum as hereinafter set out and the governing boards of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, the North Carolina State Grange, and the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., shall thereupon be fully authorized and empowered to hold and conduct on the part of the producers and growers of the commodities herein mentioned a referendum on the question of whether or not such growers and producers shall levy upon themselves an assessment under and subject to and for the purposes stated in this Article. Provided, that the petition for a tobacco referendum shall be signed by and, once approved, shall authorize the holding of a referendum by the governing boards of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., the North Carolina State Grange, the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., and the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina, Incorporated.

(b) There is hereby created a North Carolina Tobacco Research Commission within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Commission shall consist of the Commissioner of Agriculture, or the Commissioner’s designee; the President of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., or the President’s designee; the President of the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina, Incorporated, or the President’s designee; the President of the North Carolina State Grange, or the President’s designee; and, the President of the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., or his designee. (1951, c. 827, s. 3; 1991, c. 102, s. 2; 1997-261, s. 109; 2023-63, s. 1.2(a).)