N.C. Gen. Stat. § 41-77: Citation to prior statutes.

A citation to a former statute recodified in Article 5 of Chapter 41 of the General Statutes, whether made before or after adoption of Article 5, shall be deemed to be a citation to the recodified statute, unless application of this rule of construction would substantially impair the rights of a party. (2020-50, s. 2(a), (c).)