Sen. Sydney Batch

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 summaryThis North Carolina bill requires that the salaries of state legislators be held in escrow if the General Assembly does not pass a budget by June 30, 2026. If the Senate and House do not ratify a state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by that deadline, the pay earned by legislators from July 1, 2026, forward will be withheld. The withheld funds will be released only after the legislature ratifies a budget or adjourns for the year. The legislation also sets aside ten thousand dollars to cover the administrative costs of managing the escrow account.

Maddy summaryThe Carolina Housing Promise Act aims to improve housing affordability and accessibility across North Carolina by empowering the state's Housing Finance Agency to issue up to $18 billion in bonds for residential projects. A key provision increases an existing excise tax on real estate transfers, directing half of the new revenue to fund a new Housing Innovation Office within the agency. This office will utilize the funds to support the construction and maintenance of affordable homes, develop innovative funding models, and provide technical assistance for housing solutions. The bill also updates the legal authority for the agency to issue various types of debt instruments to finance these housing initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill aims to address public safety staffing issues by increasing salaries for state law enforcement and correctional officers, with changes taking effect in July 2026. It establishes new mental health benefits, including 12 confidential annual visits per year, and creates peer support programs to assist officers with stress and burnout. The legislation also introduces retention bonuses for correctional officers and provides grants to help local governments offer comparable pay increases to their own employees. Funded through state appropriations, the bill requires regular reporting on staffing levels, vacancy rates, and the usage of mental health services.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill establishes a new regulatory framework specifically for large nonresidential electricity customers who consume 50 megawatts or more. It requires electric utilities to file tariffs that include strict contract terms, such as a minimum 20-year service agreement, mandatory load usage guarantees, and significant upfront payments to cover the cost of infrastructure upgrades needed to serve these clients. The legislation also mandates that these customers pay exit fees if they terminate service early or fail to meet their contracted energy demands, ensuring that other ratepayers are not financially burdened by their departure. Additionally, the bill creates a program allowing these large customers to purchase dedicated clean energy resources while ensuring that residential and small commercial customers are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged by these arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to study health challenges faced by women serving in the military. The study will examine how to improve maternity care coordination, access to community resources, and mental health support for pregnant and postpartum veterans, while also looking at ways to reduce maternal mortality and address racial disparities. To complete this research, the state has allocated $100,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, and the final report with recommendations is due by April 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 1030 expands North Carolina's Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income families by requiring health and safety improvements, such as better indoor air quality measures, alongside standard energy efficiency upgrades. The bill authorizes community-scale projects that target multiple homes in neighborhoods facing shared environmental or economic challenges, allowing local agencies and utilities to submit proposals for these initiatives. To fund these changes, the legislation appropriates $10 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with rules established to prioritize projects that maximize energy savings and address housing vulnerabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to expand affordable housing in North Carolina by providing both immediate funding and a new revenue stream for the state's Housing Trust Fund. It allocates $30 million in one-time funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and establishes a permanent fee on real estate transfer documents, directing a portion of those proceeds to the fund. The legislation directly affects North Carolina residents by increasing resources available to create and preserve safe, affordable housing options, while also impacting real estate transactions through a new tax mechanism. By addressing a significant shortage of affordable units, the bill seeks to support families and stabilize the local economy through improved housing access.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the North Carolina Children's Safe Screens Act to protect minors under 18 from online harms by regulating large internet platforms. It creates a new Online Safety Division within the Department of Justice to enforce rules that ban deceptive design tactics, require parental notification for child accounts, and mandate strict privacy settings by default. Covered platforms, defined as those with over five million users in the state and $25 million in annual revenue, must submit annual impact assessments and provide tools for parents to manage screen time and content. The legislation empowers the Attorney General to file civil lawsuits against non-compliant companies, with potential fines of up to $500,000 per violation, while funding enforcement through a dedicated state fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Small Farmers Support Grant Program to provide financial assistance to North Carolina residents who are small farmers earning $1 million or less annually. The program offers grants to help eligible individuals purchase essential inputs, equipment, and make operational improvements to their farms, with funding prioritized based on factors like farm size and economic hardship. An initial $15 million in recurring funds is allocated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support these efforts, and the bill creates an advisory committee to monitor the program's effectiveness.