Rep. Gloristine Brown

Maddy summaryHB 832 revises North Carolina's school safety grant program to expand eligible uses of funds for training aimed at improving student well-being and safety. It allows public school units to fund evidence-based programs including suicide prevention training (CALM), trauma-focused therapies (like cognitive behavioral therapy), violence prevention, and peer mentoring facilitation. The bill specifically permits up to $350,000 in annual funding for these expanded services, directly affecting school staff, counselors, and students in North Carolina public schools. This change modifies existing grant rules without creating new funding or altering overall program structure.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution formally recognizes the 250th anniversary of the United States and honors the historical contributions of North Carolina to the nation's founding. The bill specifically highlights key events such as the Halifax Resolves and the Mecklenburg Resolves, noting North Carolina's pivotal role in the movement for independence. It encourages citizens of the state to participate in commemorative events leading up to July 4, 2026, but does not allocate funding or mandate specific actions. As a non-binding resolution, it serves primarily as an official statement of recognition rather than a law with enforceable requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Safeguarding Elections Act in North Carolina establishes new protections to prevent federal interference and voter intimidation during elections. It prohibits the deployment of troops or armed personnel at voting locations within 17 days of an election unless there is an immediate threat of armed conflict, while allowing law enforcement to remain for emergencies. The bill also criminalizes specific acts of voter intimidation, such as threatening individuals for voting, falsely challenging their eligibility, or conditioning employment on how employees vote, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. Additionally, it creates a restitution fund to support voter education campaigns and allows aggrieved individuals to seek court injunctions against violations.

Maddy summaryHB 133, the NC Farmland and Military Protection Act, bans U.S.-designated adversarial foreign governments from buying, leasing, or holding interests in agricultural land or land within 75 miles of major military installations like Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune. It directly affects foreign governments identified by the U.S. State Department as adversaries under arms regulations, preventing them from acquiring land critical to food production or near military sites. The law excludes agricultural research leases under 250 acres and makes any violating land transfer legally void. This focuses on restricting foreign control of strategic land without altering existing domestic land transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Information Technology, and the Administrative Office of the Courts to study the state's involuntary commitment process. The agencies must identify gaps in the current system and submit a report with recommendations by February 1, 2027. Key areas for improvement include ensuring judges receive timely clinical data, training legal officials on community-based treatment options, and updating electronic forms to capture consistent data. The legislation also aims to increase data sharing between health and court systems to support more effective legal and clinical outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 1040 updates the financial and operational rules for the Pitt County-City of Greenville Airport Authority by clarifying how the county and city fund airport operations and expansions. The bill allows the two governments to share costs for running the airport and building new facilities, using money from airport fees, land sales, or voter-approved taxes and bonds. It also confirms the authority's power to manage the property, enforce safety zoning rules, and issue debt for improvements if voters agree. This legislation primarily affects the local county and city officials who oversee the airport's budget and development plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill honors the life and memory of Louis Milford Pate Jr., a former North Carolina state legislator and retired Air Force navigator. It formally recognizes his military service, public service career, and community contributions while extending sympathy to his family following his death. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the document to Pate's family as a final tribute.

Maddy summaryHB 1200, known as the Tax-Free Family Essentials Act, removes the state sales tax on specific items including diapers, baby wipes, over-the-counter children's medication, prenatal vitamins, and feminine hygiene products. The bill directly affects families purchasing these goods by exempting them from the tax, while also clarifying the legal definitions of these items to ensure consistent application. These tax exemptions will take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply to all sales occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee voters in North Carolina the right to early voting for all primary and general elections. If approved by voters in a 2026 referendum, the amendment would require county election boards to designate a minimum of 14 days for early voting, with sites open at least 8:00 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. on weekdays and same-day voter registration available at these sites. The legislation also mandates that early voting locations and staffing levels be adjusted to meet voter demand, ensuring consistent operating hours across the state. This change would be implemented only if a majority of voters cast ballots in favor of the amendment at the upcoming general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a $10 fee on every customer entering sexually oriented businesses in North Carolina that also hold an alcohol permit. The collected fees must be remitted quarterly to the Department of Revenue and deposited into a fund designated for sexual assault and rape crisis services. Businesses are required to keep daily records of customer counts without collecting personal names, and they must submit these records for audit upon request. The legislation aims to address secondary impacts on public health and safety by funding support services rather than targeting the businesses' expressive content.