Rep. Carolyn Logan

Maddy summaryHB 863 appropriates $582 million in state funds to address unmet recovery needs in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. It directly affects residents and businesses in the impacted area by funding affordable housing repairs, disaster-related home improvements, business grants, park restoration, flood protection, and emergency services. Key provisions include $105 million for local housing grants (covering repairs, homelessness assistance, and mortgage help), $75 million for stream restoration and food banks, and a $75,000 business grant program for eligible companies with sales tax declines. The funds are distributed across state agencies like Housing Finance, Agriculture, and Public Safety to support physical recovery and economic stabilization.

Maddy summaryHB 838 creates a new satellite broadband grant program for the Department of Information Technology, prioritizing eligible entities (like state/local governments, nonprofits, and ISPs) in the 39 counties affected by Hurricane Helene to purchase satellite internet installation materials and service for their own use. It also repurposes up to $50 million from existing broadband funds to reimburse communications providers for repairing Hurricane Helene-damaged broadband infrastructure, with priority given to restoring service and limits on reimbursement. The bill updates the Broadband Pole Replacement Program to clarify reimbursement rules (50% of eligible costs, capped at $10,000 per pole), requires pole owners to provide timely cost estimates for infrastructure work, and mandates public reporting of program data. These changes aim to accelerate broadband deployment and recovery in underserved areas impacted by the hurricane.

Maddy summaryHB 857 creates North Carolina's Missing with Disability Alert System, requiring law enforcement to issue rapid statewide alerts for missing persons or children with disabilities (as defined by state law) who face potential harm, neglect, or exploitation. The system mandates that alerts include only essential recovery information while protecting sensitive health details, and requires coordination with broadcasters and highway message signs for public dissemination. All law enforcement agencies and the state missing persons center must develop new guidelines and training procedures to implement the alert system. This policy change directly affects law enforcement, broadcasters, and individuals with disabilities who go missing.

Maddy summaryHB 266 designates June 12th of each year as Women Veterans Day in North Carolina. The bill directly affects North Carolinians by establishing an annual state observance to recognize women veterans' service. It adds this date to North Carolina's official calendar through a simple statutory change in Chapter 103 of the General Statutes, requiring no new funding or administrative implementation. The bill creates a ceremonial recognition without altering existing veteran benefits or programs.

Maddy summaryHB 845 requires state agencies and local governments to install visible, accessible water safety rescue equipment - including ring life buoys meeting federal safety standards - at public docks, piers, and shoreline access points. The law mandates that buoys be placed within 200 feet of shorelines, stored in bright orange/yellow stations, and not permanently secured, with specific requirements for buoyant lines and retroreflective marking. It also appropriates $25,000 for the Wildlife Resources Commission and provides up to $500 grants to local governments in economic tier one areas to cover installation costs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting public water access facilities owned by state or local entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires North Carolina state agencies and local governments to only purchase U.S. and North Carolina flags made entirely in the United States using domestically grown or produced materials. It prohibits using public funds for any U.S. or state flags not 100% manufactured in America from domestic materials. The rule applies to all new flag purchases starting October 1, 2025. It directly affects all government offices responsible for buying flags with public money.

Maddy summaryHB 160 requires North Carolina's University of North Carolina School of Medicine Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) to create and share evidence-based information about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) with all healthcare practitioners in the state. This includes current risk factors, conditions, and contact details for epilepsy support organizations, available on NC AHEC's website. Healthcare providers treating epilepsy patients will directly receive this standardized resource, which must be compiled by consulting medical boards and professional societies. NC AHEC must report the completed resource to the legislature by September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 823 amends North Carolina law to create two types of specialized districts: "research and production service districts" (for business/development areas) and "urban research service districts" (URSDs). It allows counties to establish these districts to provide services like infrastructure, utilities, and public facilities beyond standard county offerings, directly affecting residents and businesses within the districts. Key mechanisms include requiring advisory committees (with at least 10 members, including a developer representative), setting rules for multi-county district creation, and permitting developers to act as agents for service provision under county approval. The bill focuses on structuring district governance and service delivery without altering tax mechanisms or funding sources.

Maddy summaryHB 828 prohibits proposition wagers (bets on specific in-game actions like player stats or minor occurrences that don’t affect the final outcome) on college and amateur sports, effective July 1, 2025. It also bans in-person sports betting at venues hosting college events during the eight hours before and during those events. The bill defines "proposition wager" specifically to exclude such bets, while allowing other forms of legal sports wagering. It directly affects sports facilities hosting college games, bettors placing these specific wagers, and operators managing wagering platforms. The law does not restrict betting on professional sports or the final outcome of college games.

Maddy summaryHB 826, titled "No Retaliation Against Mandatory Reporters," protects employees required by North Carolina law to report suspected abuse, neglect, fraud, or other threats to vulnerable populations (such as child welfare workers, healthcare providers, and sex offender compliance reporters). The bill prohibits employers from taking retaliatory actions like firing, demoting, or reducing pay against these employees for making good-faith reports. Key provisions require employers to inform workers of their rights, provide annual training on reporting duties, and establish a rebuttable presumption of retaliation if adverse actions occur within 60 days of a report. Enforcement is handled by the North Carolina Commissioner of Labor, who can order reinstatement, back pay, or fines up to $5,000 per violation.