Sen. Jay Chaudhuri

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally initiates the process to confirm Nathaniel Denny as the Secretary of North Carolina's Department of Information Technology. The bill requires the Senate to review and vote on the Governor's nomination for this leadership position, as mandated by state law and the state constitution. It does not change any laws or policies but serves as a procedural step to evaluate the appointment before it becomes official.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $319 million from the state's General Fund to North Carolina's Medicaid program to cover anticipated changes in enrollment, service costs, and federal funding rates. The money is designated for the Department of Health and Human Services to use starting in the 2025-2027 fiscal year, with the funding officially beginning retroactively on July 1, 2025. By adjusting available funds based on projected healthcare shifts, the legislation aims to ensure the Medicaid program has sufficient resources to operate as demographics and costs evolve.

Maddy summaryThe CARDINAL Act establishes a new state program that provides an additional $1,000 to children born in North Carolina between 2025 and 2028 who receive federal contributions into a specific type of savings account known as a Trump Account. To fund this initiative, the bill redirects $192 million from the state's existing Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve, which was originally set aside for the 2026-2027 school year. The legislation also modifies the priority order for awarding opportunity scholarships in 2026-2027, ensuring that students who received grants in the previous year are processed first if funds are insufficient to cover all applicants.

Maddy summarySB 1053 modifies how North Carolina handles criminal penalties for child care licensing violations by reducing the charge from a Class I felony to a Class A1 misdemeanor for first-time offenses, provided no child injury occurred. The bill allows prosecutors to still pursue felony charges for repeat offenders or cases involving multiple children, but requires them to consider specific factors like the number of children at risk and whether the operator took corrective action. To support these changes, the legislation allocates $75,000 to update enforcement protocols, training materials, and court forms for relevant state agencies and legal personnel.

Maddy summarySB 1054, titled "No Child Left Unfed," directs the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to allow legally operating family, friend, and neighbor child care providers to participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. The bill requires the state to take administrative steps such as identifying sponsoring organizations, simplifying application processes, and seeking federal waivers to reduce barriers for these small-scale caregivers. To support this expansion, the legislation appropriates $150,000 for initial planning and outreach, along with $500,000 in recurring funds to cover ongoing administrative costs. Additionally, the bill mandates that the department submit annual reports on enrollment numbers and barriers faced by providers, with an initial report due within 12 months of the law's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates five million dollars to provide high-dosage early literacy tutoring based on the science of reading for first-grade students in North Carolina, with options for both in-person and virtual instruction. It clarifies that schools are permitted to use virtual tutoring programs and requires local school districts to report detailed reading proficiency data for first, second, and third-grade students on their websites. The reporting requirements include specific metrics on student performance, retention rates, and participation in reading camps to ensure public accountability. These changes take effect starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to conduct a study on the feasibility and potential impacts of adopting a statewide year-round school calendar. The study will examine various factors, including student learning outcomes, summer learning loss, testing schedules, community college enrollment, tourism revenue, and building usage. The department must complete its analysis and submit a report with any proposed legislation to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by February 1, 2027. To fund this research, the bill appropriates $50,000 from the General Fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects the right of homeowners and tenants in North Carolina to operate licensed family child care homes by preventing restrictions from private and public entities. It makes it illegal for homeowners associations to ban or penalize child care operations and voids any lease clauses that prevent tenants from running such businesses. Additionally, the law requires local governments to treat licensed child care homes as standard residential properties, ensuring they are not subjected to stricter zoning rules or special permits than other homes. If these rules are violated, licensed operators can seek legal relief and recover legal fees, while landlords and associations remain responsible for enforcing general safety and maintenance standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally defines "license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor" child care providers in North Carolina law to clarify their legal status. It applies to individuals caring for children outside their own families in settings that do not require a license, such as relatives, neighbors, or family friends. The legislation ensures these caregivers are not subject to new licensing requirements while allowing the state to update its public materials, internal policies, and data systems to better track and support this group. Additionally, the bill allocates $30,000 to help the Department of Health and Human Services implement these changes and improve communication regarding the distinction between licensed and unlicensed care arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill aims to improve access to affordable child care by increasing subsidy rates and providing financial support to providers. Starting in October 2026, the state will raise payment rates for licensed centers and homes to match the 75th percentile of market rates, with a specific provision to maintain higher local rates in counties with very few children if the statewide rate would be too low. The legislation appropriates $110 million in recurring funds to implement these rate increases and reinstitutes a $50 million stabilization grant program to help providers with compensation. Additionally, the bill allocates $50 million for matching grants to counties and private employers for physical improvements and capacity expansion, and $60 million for a two-year pilot program that offers subsidies to help child care workers afford care for their own children. To qualify for the worker assistance pilot, providers must be full-time employees earning below 85% of the state median income, and the program requires a 25% match from the employer while prioritizing areas with the highest unmet demand for care.