Sen. Michael Lee

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Students First Act, introduces three main changes to North Carolina's education system. First, it protects student privacy by explicitly classifying personally identifiable disciplinary records as confidential, preventing them from being released as public records. Second, it creates a work group to study and plan a transition to a weighted student funding model for K-12 public schools, aiming to increase flexibility and transparency in how schools receive state money. Finally, the bill establishes a pilot program for the 2027-2028 school year that would provide high school students with funds to participate in personalized learning and credit-bearing activities. The legislation also appropriates $300,000 to support the formation of the funding strategy work group.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the requirement for Ambulatory Surgical Facilities and Inpatient Rehabilitation Services to obtain a Certificate of Need before opening or expanding in North Carolina. It directly affects healthcare providers operating these facilities by eliminating a regulatory approval step that previously required state permission for new construction or major expansions. The legislation also allocates funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to help phase out the remaining Certificate of Need laws in the state and updates legal definitions to exclude behavioral health facilities from these review processes.

Maddy summaryThe Foundational Mathematics Act establishes state requirements to improve math proficiency for North Carolina students from kindergarten through eighth grade. It mandates that schools provide at least 60 minutes of daily, evidence-based math instruction and require students to take math assessments three times per year to identify skill gaps. Students who fall below grade level must receive targeted interventions documented in a Mathematics Success Plan, while the state will also create a new program to support artificial intelligence in math instruction.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates state funds to enhance workforce training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in North Carolina community colleges. It establishes a program to offer micro-credentials and on-the-job training, while funding specific roles to connect colleges with business partners and expand career pathways for high school students. Additionally, the legislation directs money toward a study on creating faster routes for apprentices to become teachers and provides resources to implement a secure digital wallet system for managing academic credentials.

Maddy summarySB 316 requires North Carolina hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to publicly disclose detailed pricing information for common medical services, including full charges, negotiated rates, and reimbursements from Medicaid, Medicare, and major insurers. Beginning in 2015, these facilities must submit quarterly reports to the state health department on the 100 most frequent inpatient diagnoses (DRGs) and common surgical/imaging procedures. The data will be made publicly available online, enabling patients and employers to compare costs and make informed healthcare decisions. This bill directly affects healthcare providers by mandating transparency but does not alter insurance coverage or set price limits. Its key mechanism is standardized reporting of pricing data to foster competition and affordability in the healthcare market.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies North Carolina's Film and Entertainment Grant Fund to create a new Micro-Budget Productions Account specifically for smaller-scale film projects. Under the new provisions, grants for these smaller productions are capped at $100,000 plus a potential bonus, provided the project has qualifying expenses between $50,000 and $1,499,000. The legislation also adjusts funding limits for larger productions, raising the maximum grant for feature films to $20 million and increasing the cap for television series seasons to $25 million. Additionally, the bill updates definitions for "highly compensated individuals" and "qualifying expenses" to align with higher compensation thresholds and exclude certain costs from eligible spending.

Maddy summarySB 1037, known as the DIGITAL NC Act, creates a new nine-member Board of Governors to oversee North Carolina's state information technology enterprise. This board will develop a comprehensive twenty-year plan to modernize the state's IT infrastructure, consolidate technical staff, and enhance cybersecurity defenses. The bill designates the Board's members through appointments by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President Pro Tempore, requiring specific expertise in technology leadership, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. The resulting plan will recommend significant changes, such as transitioning the state to a 'cloud-first' approach and potentially reorganizing the Department of Information Technology into a new Digital Sovereignty Authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the legal definition of electric assisted bicycles in North Carolina by categorizing them into three classes based on motor power and speed limits. It authorizes local governments, including cities and counties, to create their own rules regarding where these bikes can be ridden, such as restricting them from sidewalks or setting speed limits on shared paths. While the bill generally allows electric bikes on all roadways, it mandates that riders under 18 wear helmets when using Class 3 bikes and permits cities to require helmets for younger riders on Class 1 and 2 bikes. Additionally, the legislation directs the Department of Transportation to create educational materials about safe e-bike usage and provides funding to support this effort.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina legislation allows property owners and contractors to hire private construction inspectors if local government departments fail to perform inspections within ten business days. The bill establishes a state registration and certification system for private inspection firms and individuals who verify that buildings meet state building codes. It outlines specific rules for these private inspectors, including requirements for fees, conflict of interest disclosures, and standardized reporting forms. Local agencies are required to accept private certificates of compliance under certain conditions, particularly if they refuse without legal authority. Additionally, the law grants the state Board authority to set minimum standards for public code-enforcement officials and requires agencies to submit data on their employees' training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires dentists in North Carolina who administer general anesthesia or sedation to report specific adverse events to the state Board of Dental Examiners within 72 to 30 days, depending on the severity of the incident. The law defines adverse events as serious clinical emergencies such as cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, or unplanned advanced airway placement, and mandates that dentists halt their procedures until the board approves resuming their permits after an investigation. Additionally, the bill directs a university research group to study whether a second qualified anesthesia provider is necessary when using certain deep sedation drugs and allocates $100,000 to fund this study. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026, with the research funding becoming available on July 1, 2026.