Maddy summarySB 519, the "Transportation for the Future Act," reorganizes how North Carolina allocates transportation funds to prioritize sustainable projects like bus rapid transit, commuter rail, and bicycle/pedestrian improvements. It caps state funding for commuter or light rail projects at 10% of either the regional allocation or total project costs, and requires at least 20% of funds to go toward non-highway projects. The bill categorizes projects into "Statewide Strategic," "Regional Impact," and "Division Needs" groups, using specific scoring criteria (e.g., safety, economic growth, multimodal access) to rank and fund them. Local input and federal funding rules are also clarified to ensure transparency in project selection. This directly affects local governments, transit agencies, and communities seeking to build safer, more connected transportation systems.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 518, the Mobile Home Park Act, creates new protections for mobile home residents and park operators in North Carolina. It requires written leases for tenancies, mandates a 90-day notice period for eviction (with exceptions for lease violations), and prohibits unfair fees like excessive entry charges. The bill also requires security deposits to be held in separate trust accounts and directs the North Carolina Human Rights Commission to regulate parks and resolve disputes. This law directly affects mobile home owners, park management, and the Commission, focusing on fair treatment and clear dispute resolution.
Maddy summarySB 567 adjusts Medicaid reimbursement rates for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services in North Carolina. It increases daily rates for outpatient programs (e.g., $255.28 for level 2.1 care) and establishes new coverage for residential treatment levels (e.g., $350/day for level 3.1), with higher rates for medically monitored services like detox ($756.65/day). The bill appropriates $15 million annually from the state General Fund to cover these rate changes, matching $27.4 million in federal funds for the 2025-2027 biennium. These changes directly affect Medicaid-certified SUD treatment providers by increasing their reimbursement rates for specific service levels, effective July 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 482, the "Don't Tread on Me: An Individual Freedoms Act," creates new legal protections for North Carolinians by limiting state agency actions across multiple areas. It directly affects all residents by prohibiting warrantless government surveillance, requiring agencies to stop demanding private medical, religious, or political information for services, banning ideological restrictions on reproductive care, and protecting parental rights in education and healthcare decisions. Key provisions mandate that schools provide fact-based education without political manipulation, prevent discrimination in employment or housing based on private beliefs, and ensure government benefits are not denied due to personal health choices or political views. The bill establishes these rights as enforceable standards for all state agencies, requiring actions to be "narrowly tailored" to a compelling state interest.
Maddy summarySB 566 updates North Carolina's health insurance laws to require equal coverage for substance use disorder treatment as for physical health conditions. It replaces outdated terms like "chemical dependency" with "substance use disorder" in state statutes and mandates that medical necessity determinations for addiction treatment must use the same clinical criteria applied to physical health conditions. This directly affects health insurers offering group plans and patients seeking addiction treatment, ensuring they face no stricter coverage limits than for other medical issues. The bill aligns North Carolina's requirements with federal mental health parity law (the Paul Wellstone Act) by explicitly including substance use disorders under coverage parity rules.
Maddy summarySB 612 requires all new school buses purchased by North Carolina school districts to be electric starting in the 2026-2027 school year, with the goal of converting the entire school bus fleet to electric by the end of the 2049-2050 school year. It also creates a grant program to help small counties purchase electric "activity buses" (used for field trips and events) by covering up to 50% of the cost. The bill appropriates $350 million for general school bus conversions and $50 million specifically for the activity bus grant program, beginning in 2026-2027. This directly affects all school districts, with additional financial support targeted at smaller counties eligible for supplemental funding.
Maddy summarySB 480 establishes North Carolina's first state-run paid family leave program, effective January 1, 2026. It provides eligible workers - such as employees meeting wage criteria or self-employed individuals who opt in - with up to 26 weeks of paid leave per year to care for a newborn, adoptive child, or family member with a serious health condition, or for military family leave needs. Benefits are capped at 12 weeks for most family-related reasons (like newborn care), 18 weeks for personal serious health conditions, and 26 weeks for military family leave. The program is funded through employee payroll contributions and administered by the Division of Employment Security, with specific eligibility requirements defined in the bill.
Maddy summarySB 537 defines the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in North Carolina, specifically for nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). The bill provides statutory definitions for each role, detailing permitted activities like diagnosing conditions, prescribing medications, ordering diagnostic tests, and managing patient care within their specialized focus areas. By codifying these definitions in state law, the bill removes longstanding ambiguity about APRN practice that has persisted for decades, as noted by North Carolina courts and the executive branch. This change directly affects over 20,000 APRNs in the state by legally clarifying their scope of practice.
Maddy summarySB 638, the "Fair Maps Act," proposes a constitutional amendment to replace North Carolina’s current legislative redistricting process with an independent commission. It would establish the North Carolina Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts after each federal census, removing direct control from the General Assembly and governor. The law requires districts to have equal population, remain contiguous, avoid splitting counties, and preserve communities of interest (like shared cultural or geographic ties). If approved by voters in 2026, this change would take effect for the 2030 census-based redistricting cycle.
Maddy summarySB 597 requires North Carolina state agencies to evaluate the cumulative environmental impact of proposed permits on minority and low-income communities before granting approvals. This applies to mining, waste facilities, hazardous waste sites, and other projects requiring state permits, directly affecting permit applicants and state agencies like the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill mandates that agencies deny permits if they find the proposed project would have a disproportionate adverse impact on these communities, considering existing environmental burdens in the area. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, for all pending permit applications.