Sen. Todd Johnson

Maddy summarySB 474, the DAVE Act, creates a new Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency within North Carolina's State Auditor's office. It requires all state agencies to report by October 2025 on how they spend public funds and list vacant positions held for six months or longer, including reasons for vacancies. The Division will assess whether agencies or specific positions remain necessary, using AI tools to analyze spending effectiveness, duplication, and budget use. By December 2025, the Division must recommend to the legislature which agencies or positions should be eliminated based on this review.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new chapter in North Carolina law to modernize and simplify the state's human resources system for employees in state agencies and universities. It creates a decentralized system under the Governor's direction where agency heads are responsible for managing their own personnel, while the Office of State Human Resources provides oversight. The legislation sets core principles for the workforce, including equal opportunity, fair compensation, and clear accountability, and it defines specific categories of employees such as career and temporary staff. Additionally, the bill appropriates funds to support these modernization efforts and clarifies the roles of various government bodies within the new framework.

Maddy summarySB 227 prohibits North Carolina public schools from teaching or promoting 12 specific "divisive concepts" defined in the bill, such as claims that one race is inherently superior or that individuals bear responsibility for past actions of their race. The bill directly affects K-12 students, teachers, and school employees by banning instruction on these concepts and restricting professional development that includes them. Key provisions include requiring schools to avoid "discriminatory practices" and preventing staff from being compelled to affirm divisive concepts. The bill does not ban all diversity initiatives but targets specific teachings it deems contrary to "equality and rights of all persons." This is a proposed bill (not yet law) currently under review in the North Carolina Senate.

Maddy summarySB 558 (North Carolina Senate Bill 558) requires public universities and community colleges to adopt diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that comply with state law while prohibiting the promotion of specific "divisive concepts." It defines 12 concepts as "divisive," including claims that one race or sex is inherently superior, individuals bear guilt for past actions of their race, or meritocracy is inherently racist. The bill mandates that institutions avoid teaching these concepts and bars community colleges from investigating protected speech (like satire) labeled as "microaggressions." It directly affects all public higher education employees, faculty, and students in North Carolina's university system and community colleges.

Maddy summarySB 153, the North Carolina Border Protection Act, requires state law enforcement and correctional facilities to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. It mandates that state employees determine the immigration status of people in custody, report non-citizens to ICE, and enter into 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow designated officers to enforce immigration laws under ICE supervision. The bill also prohibits UNC constituent institutions from adopting sanctuary policies. These provisions directly affect state departments of Public Safety and Adult Correction, as well as UNC universities. The bill does not change existing federal immigration law but requires state agencies to align their practices with federal enforcement priorities.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 280, the "Private School Security Act," allows certain individuals to carry weapons on specific educational properties under defined conditions. It permits employees and volunteers of private schools to carry firearms or stun guns on school property if authorized by the school's board or director, provided they hold a concealed handgun permit and complete annual advanced gun safety training. Private schools must also adopt and annually distribute written standard operating procedures for weapon possession to parents. Additionally, the bill allows individuals with concealed handgun permits to carry their weapons in places of religious worship located on educational property while attending worship services or other religious functions.

Maddy summarySB 695, titled "Incent Development Finance District Funding," was introduced in 2025 but withdrawn from committee on April 28, 2025, without advancing further. The bill's title suggests it aimed to establish incentives for funding Development Finance Districts (DFDs), which are designated areas where local governments use special tax mechanisms to finance public improvements. However, no specific policy provisions or affected entities are described in the provided context, as the bill was withdrawn before committee action. Since it did not pass committee or receive a full legislative vote, no concrete policy changes were enacted.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 587 clarifies the rules for existing properties that no longer meet current land development regulations, termed "nonconformities." It defines a nonconformity as a lawfully established lot, structure, or use that doesn't comply with new regulations, provided it's not expanded or intensified. The bill establishes that new regulations generally cannot apply to these existing nonconformities without the property owner's written consent, protecting their continued use. Property owners are permitted to reconstruct or repair nonconforming elements as long as they are not enlarged. However, this protection may expire if the nonconformity is intentionally and voluntarily discontinued for 24 consecutive months, with provisions to pause this period during certain legal proceedings or emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SB 503, aims to improve efficiency within the Office of Vital Records. It establishes a 30-calendar-day deadline for the Office of Vital Records and local register of deeds offices to process requests for birth and death certificate amendments, directly affecting individuals seeking these changes. Additionally, the bill prohibits employees of the Office of Vital Records from teleworking, except during declared disasters or emergencies as determined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission to create a new digital reporting and response system to help identify and address suspected human trafficking cases. The system will allow the public and professionals to submit anonymous tips through various channels, such as mobile apps or text messages, and will use artificial intelligence to prioritize reports based on their severity before routing them to the appropriate authorities. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that third-party contractors must provide human trafficking awareness training to their employees and allocates state funds to support the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office in its anti-trafficking task force.