Rep. Amanda Cook

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that designating a historic district in Mecklenburg County does not count as "down-zoning" under state law. By making this distinction, the legislation ensures that local governments can create historic districts without needing the written consent of every property owner within the area, a requirement that currently applies to other types of down-zoning. The law also prohibits waiting periods that prevent applicants from resubmitting denied development requests. These changes apply retroactively to December 11, 2024, and affect only Mecklenburg County.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program within the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to fund community organizations focused on improving maternal health outcomes for Black women. The program provides financial awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to support initiatives that address social determinants of health, such as housing, transportation, nutrition, and access to childcare. Eligible applicants must be community-based groups led by Black women that offer evidence-based services including doula support, mental health care, and culturally respectful training for health workers. The legislation also requires the department to provide technical assistance to grant recipients and submit annual reports on fund usage and program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHB 1197 updates the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program by increasing forgivable loan amounts for future students and establishing stricter criteria for selecting partner teacher training institutions. Under the new rules, eligible students can receive up to $10,000 per academic year, while the program will only partner with schools that meet specific performance standards, such as high licensure pass rates and alignment with the Science of Reading. Additionally, the bill mandates a study by the Friday Institute to investigate why some participants choose to repay their loans in cash rather than fulfilling their service obligations. These changes are set to take effect for the 2026-2027 academic year, with previous program revisions applied retroactively to current participants.

Maddy summaryHB 1184, known as the Voucher School Transparency Act, requires nonpublic schools in North Carolina that receive Opportunity Scholarship funds to submit detailed annual reports to the State Board of Education. These schools must provide financial documentation, standardized test scores for students in grades three and higher, and specific data on graduation rates, teacher licensure, and student demographics. The bill also mandates that schools with at least 70 scholarship recipients or $100,000 in funding undergo annual financial audits, while smaller schools are audited every three years. Additionally, the legislation requires these institutions to conduct criminal background checks for staff, maintain physical facilities within the state, and share safety plans with local law enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill prohibits cities, counties, and local or state law enforcement agencies from entering contracts to detain noncitizens in locked immigration facilities for civil immigration cases. It also bans these agencies from maintaining facilities specifically designed to house individuals awaiting removal proceedings under federal authority. To support oversight, the Department of Public Safety must collect and report annual data on detainees, including demographics, legal status, and release or deportation details. The law includes funding for administrative costs and is set to take effect on December 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1206 establishes the North Carolina Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to protect employees from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The law requires private employers with 15 or more employees, as well as state and local government entities, to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees who have communicated their limitations, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Key provisions prohibit denying employment opportunities, forcing specific accommodations without consultation, or taking adverse action against workers who request or use these accommodations. The bill also outlines enforcement mechanisms, allowing aggrieved employees to file civil lawsuits for remedies such as back pay, compensatory damages, and reinstatement, with a three-year statute of limitations for filing claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "Save Our Beaches," stops a specific rule that would have allowed the use of wheat straw bales for sand fencing in North Carolina's ocean hazard areas. By disapproving this rule, the legislation ensures that beach restoration projects in these zones cannot rely on this particular type of temporary barrier. The change directly affects coastal management agencies and contractors who might have planned to use wheat straw bales for erosion control. Ultimately, the bill leaves the decision of which materials are permitted for sand fencing to existing regulations rather than the new wheat straw provision.

Maddy summaryHB 1183, titled 'Defend NC,' prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in arrests or serving removal warrants. The bill also directs state agencies to explore alternatives for health and education funding lost due to federal cuts and mandates a study to potentially create a new state health research institute. Additionally, it temporarily exempts certain tariff-affected goods from sales tax in 2026 and includes general statements of intent to protect Medicaid eligibility and uphold federal promises to North Carolinians.

Maddy summaryHB 1209 appropriates $1 million in recurring state funds starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to expand the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program. The money is directed to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to provide embedded instructional coaching and professional development for beginning teachers within local school districts. Key provisions include partnering with teacher training programs to extend support after graduation, aligning coaching with evidence-based practices, and prioritizing high-need rural areas to help retain new educators. This legislation aims to create a more coherent system for teacher development by connecting pre-service training with ongoing in-district support.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the penalty charged to taxpayers in North Carolina when their checks or electronic payments for taxes bounce due to insufficient funds. Instead of the current rule that imposes the greater of a flat $25 fee or 10% of the payment amount, the new law sets a tiered penalty structure based on how often a person bounces payments within a five-year period. For the first two violations, the fee will be $25 plus 1% of the payment amount, while any subsequent violation will incur a $50 fee plus 2% of the payment amount, with a maximum penalty cap of $1,000. The legislation also includes an exemption for taxpayers who had sufficient money in their accounts but accidentally failed to initiate the transaction, and it provides funding to help educate the public and tax collectors about these changes.