Rep. Carolyn Logan

Maddy summaryHB 564 provides a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for retirees in North Carolina's Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, and Legislative Retirement System. It increases retirement payments for retirees who retired on or before specific dates (July 1, 2024, for most systems, or January 1, 2025, for the Legislative system) and offers a prorated increase for those retiring between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The bill appropriates $106.2 million from the General Fund to fund this adjustment, effective July 1, 2025. This policy change directly affects current retirees in these systems by increasing their monthly benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 550 updates North Carolina legislators' travel reimbursement rates to match the current federal IRS business mileage rate and federal employee per diem rates for meals and lodging, effective for travel starting in 2027. It directly affects all state legislators traveling for official legislative duties, including committee work and sessions. The bill sets mileage reimbursement to the IRS standard rate (referencing specific IRS notices) and aligns per diem allowances with federal rates for Raleigh-based travel, as detailed in the 2024 IRS notices. This eliminates separate state rates, instead tying allowances to ongoing federal updates. The change applies to all travel, including out-of-state trips where legislators may choose a flat $26/day meal rate plus lodging receipts.

Maddy summaryHB 548 requires North Carolina's Department of Commerce to conduct biannual analyses of the state's economic progress and well-being using specific community-focused metrics. It allocates $200,000 annually from the General Fund to fund these reports, which must measure poverty rates, housing and childcare costs relative to income, job quality, and neighborhood poverty patterns across all counties. The reports, due to the General Assembly by January 31 each odd-numbered year, will use public data and community input to assess economic conditions beyond traditional market indicators. This bill directly affects how state policymakers evaluate economic policy impacts, focusing on tangible quality-of-life factors for all North Carolinians.

Maddy summaryHB 521 would require most North Carolina employers to provide earned paid sick leave to workers. It mandates that employees accrue one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with limits of 32 hours per year for small businesses (10 or fewer employees) and 56 hours for larger employers. The leave covers the employee's own health needs, care for immediate family members, or situations related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Exemptions include volunteers, certain exempt employees under wage laws, and domestic workers employed in a private residence. The bill directly affects over 1.6 million private-sector workers in North Carolina, particularly low-wage and high-contact industry workers who currently lack access to paid sick days.

Maddy summaryHB 522 prohibits crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) in North Carolina from falsely advertising that they provide abortion or emergency contraceptive services when they do not. It defines this as a deceptive practice, requiring CPCs to clearly disclose staff qualifications and service offerings (like abortion care) on-site or via corrective advertising. The bill establishes a complaint process for the Attorney General to enforce violations, with civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation, and mandates a state health department evaluation of CPCs’ impact on reproductive healthcare access by 2026. This directly affects CPCs operating in the state, particularly those receiving public funds and targeting marginalized communities.

Maddy summaryHB 525 reorganizes North Carolina's Advisory Council on Rare Diseases by moving it from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and appropriates funds to cover its operating costs. The council, composed of 19 diverse members including patients, caregivers, medical professionals, researchers, and industry representatives, directly serves the rare disease community by advising state leaders on research, treatment, and policy. Key provisions include requiring the council to coordinate statewide efforts on rare disease awareness, incidence tracking, and policy initiatives, and to submit annual reports to the Governor, DHHS, and legislative committees. This bill formalizes DHHS oversight of the council and ensures dedicated funding for its operations, streamlining coordination with state health programs.

Maddy summaryHB 529 is a straightforward repeal bill that removes two specific provisions from North Carolina law that were part of the original HB 2 (2016). It repeals Article 81A of Chapter 143 (related to public accommodations) and G.S. 95-25.1(d) (a non-discrimination provision). The bill directly affects how public accommodations and non-discrimination protections were previously defined under HB 2. This is a clean repeal with no new provisions or mechanisms; it simply eliminates those specific sections of law.

Maddy summaryHB 523 allows certified school social workers in North Carolina public schools to qualify for education-based salary supplements if they hold a master's degree (or higher), regardless of whether a master's degree is required for their state license. This directly affects school social workers who meet the degree requirement but previously might have been ineligible due to licensure rules. The bill amends state law to include them in the eligibility group for these supplements, which were previously limited to certain roles like school nurses or personnel where a master's degree was licensure-required. The law appropriates $500,000 for the 2025-2026 school year to fund this change and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 531 appropriates $4 million annually to expand North Carolina's New Teacher Support Program, directly benefiting new teachers with alternative licenses (such as residency or emergency permits) and their local school districts. The bill provides three key supports: assigned regional instructional coaches, professional development aligned with teachers' needs, and a beginning teacher summit. It prioritizes schools in designated high-need counties to address a 15% first-year attrition rate among new teachers. This funding eliminates cost barriers for schools and teachers, making program participation free and increasing access to evidence-based support.

Maddy summaryHB 534 appropriates $700,000 from North Carolina's General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to establish sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training programs at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Wake Technical Community College. Each college receives $350,000 to hire a full-time faculty member ($105,000), a clinical coordinator ($105,000), purchase equipment/supplies ($45,000), and cover program development and accreditation costs ($95,000). The bill directly affects these two community colleges and future healthcare professionals seeking SANE certification. It creates a concrete funding mechanism to expand training capacity for nurses specializing in sexual assault victim care.