Rep. Becky Carney

Maddy summaryHB 709 establishes a pilot program to fund additional teacher assistants in North Carolina public schools for kindergarten through third grade. It provides $14.8 million annually (2025-2027) to cover the cost of teacher assistants based on specific ratios: one assistant per K-2 class and one per three third-grade classes. The program will select 16 schools (eight districts, one district school and one charter school per district) to participate, with funds distributed based on average class size and salary costs. The bill aims to directly support early-grade classrooms by increasing adult-to-student ratios, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 692 requires all North Carolina public schools to install at least two automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) per school building - one in a state-identified location and one in athletic facilities - and provide annual training for school staff in AED use and CPR. The bill directly affects public school personnel, students, and school districts by mandating specific installation, maintenance, and training protocols through new rules from the State Board of Education. Key provisions include requiring schools to coordinate with emergency medical systems, maintain AEDs properly, and develop policies aligned with state guidelines. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year, using existing school funding for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 686, the Safe Cosmetics Act, prohibits the sale or distribution of cosmetic products in North Carolina containing specific restricted substances - such as PFAS, heavy metals, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and asbestos - as intentionally added chemicals, nonfunctional by-products, or nonfunctional contaminants above measurable limits. The bill defines "practical quantification limit" as the lowest reliably measurable concentration and requires manufacturers to provide a compliance certificate if the Board of Agriculture suspects violations. It directly affects cosmetic manufacturers and retailers selling products in North Carolina, mandating adherence to these chemical restrictions starting January 1, 2026. The law aims to reduce consumer exposure to chemicals linked to health concerns by banning them in cosmetics above specified thresholds.

Maddy summaryHB 684 establishes North Carolina's first formal environmental justice framework to address disproportionate health and environmental risks faced by BIPOC, low-income, and marginalized communities. The bill defines key terms like "communities of color" (40%+ nonwhite residents or 10% higher than county/state) and "disproportionate impact" to guide state agencies. It requires all state agencies to identify and reduce environmental health disparities by considering environmental justice in decision-making, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits like clean air, green spaces, and renewable energy. The law aims to create consistent standards for addressing pollution burdens and health inequities across North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 738 restores specific definitions for wetland protections in North Carolina by repealing prior legislative changes and reinstating the 2010 North Carolina Wetland Assessment Manual definitions. It explicitly defines "isolated wetlands" to include those confirmed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before June 2020 and wetlands classified as basins or bogs under the state's 2010 manual (excluding man-made stormwater features). The bill also clarifies that "wetlands" include waters meeting federal definitions (33 C.F.R. § 328.3 and 40 C.F.R. § 230.3) and the reinstated isolated wetland category. This directly affects developers, landowners, and local governments by determining which projects require wetland permits under state law. The policy change reinstates pre-2020 regulatory boundaries without creating new restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 742, the "North Carolina Healthy Schools Act of 2025," requires all public schools to adopt green cleaning policies using environmentally sensitive cleaning products when cost-effective. Public school units (including charter, regional, and local districts) must follow guidelines established by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), which will create annual standards for eco-friendly products and distribute them to schools. Schools unable to adopt the policy due to increased costs must provide annual written notifications to DPI instead. The law applies starting the 2025-2026 school year, with nonpublic schools having 50+ students encouraged - but not required - to follow similar practices.

Maddy summaryHB 735 amends North Carolina's transportation funding rules to clarify state support for rail projects. It sets a 10% cap on state funds for commuter and light rail projects - limiting spending to either 10% of a regional funding allocation or 10% of the project's estimated cost. The bill also creates a new eligibility category for public transit services spanning four or more counties and serving over three municipalities. Additionally, it specifies that the state will not cover costs exceeding these funding limits, requiring project agreements to include these restrictions. The changes apply directly to regional transit authorities and developers seeking state funding for rail infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 710 establishes a three-year pilot program to fund mental health crisis units in North Carolina public schools. It allocates $2 million total (up to $250,000 annually per district) to select up to eight school districts starting in 2025-2026, prioritizing those with high student mental health needs or trauma history. Each participating district must staff units with at least a school nurse, social worker, and licensed counselor to provide crisis intervention during school hours and rotate across schools. The program requires annual reports on participating districts and student mental health impacts, ending June 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 141, the Joe John Remembrance Act, removes an additional fee for special license plates designated for fire department and rescue squad members in North Carolina. The bill amends state law to formally eliminate the "additional fee" listed for these plates (which was already set to $0 in the current fee schedule), meaning eligible firefighters and rescue personnel will pay only the standard registration fee when obtaining or renewing these special plates. This change applies to plates issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. The bill does not create new benefits but codifies an existing fee structure for these specific special plates.

Maddy summaryHB 752 establishes two new funds to support transportation infrastructure: a $50 million Rail Fund for railroad upgrades, connections, and equipment, and an Airport Fund for airport capital improvements and flight incentives. The Rail Fund prioritizes projects that boost economic growth, with 60% of annual allocations reserved for matching federal grants and 30% for planning. The Airport Fund limits 80% of funds to capital projects (like runway upgrades), 17% to attract strategic flights, and up to 20% to safety improvements. Both funds require competitive allocation based on projected job creation and economic impact, with annual reports to lawmakers. This bill directly affects rail operators, airports, and industries relying on transportation networks across North Carolina.