Rep. Becky Carney

Maddy summaryHB 48 raises North Carolina's maximum weekly unemployment benefit from $350 to $400 for claimants filing on or after March 2, 2025, directly affecting unemployed workers. It also creates a 2025 tax credit for employers, allowing them to offset unemployment insurance taxes paid on 2024 fourth-quarter wages against their 2025 tax liability. The credit applies only to contributions remitted by January 31, 2025, and must be claimed via a specific report. The bill ratifies a governor's temporary disaster-related unemployment expansion but focuses on permanent changes to benefit levels and employer tax treatment.

Maddy summaryHB 225 restores local government authority to initiate down-zoning in Wake Forest and Rolesville without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. It reverses a 2024 law that had mandated such consent, allowing towns to adjust zoning to reduce development density or limit permitted land uses (like changing from mixed-use to single-family zones) without owner approval. The bill applies only to these two towns and takes effect retroactively to December 11, 2024, making any down-zoning ordinances adopted after that date valid as if the prior consent rule never existed. This change directly affects property owners in these towns whose land might be rezoned to less dense or restricted uses.

Maddy summaryHJR 157 is a procedural resolution inviting Governor Josh Stein to address a joint session of the North Carolina General Assembly on March 12, 2025. It directs a committee of five House members and five Senate members to extend the invitation and specifies that the governor's cabinet, Council of State members, and state judges may attend. This resolution does not create new policy or affect any laws; it solely schedules a ceremonial address. The invitation is effective upon ratification, as noted in the resolution's text.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Lincoln County Schools and Iredell-Statesville Schools to implement a mandatory 14-day winter break with no instructional days or teacher workdays scheduled. It amends school calendar rules to mandate this break starting in December, while allowing districts to make up weather-related closures during this period if needed. The law applies specifically to these two school systems beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and does not affect other North Carolina schools. It focuses solely on adjusting winter break requirements and opening/closing dates for these districts.

Maddy summaryHB 194 allows Asheville City Schools to adopt an earlier start date (as early as August 19) for the 2025-2026 school year, instead of the standard August 26 requirement, if the school district demonstrates "good cause" through documented severe weather or emergency closures over the past decade. The bill requires Asheville to maintain the minimum required instructional days while adjusting the calendar, but does not change the standard end date (June 11). It applies exclusively to Asheville City Schools and is effective for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a targeted policy change for Asheville's specific operational needs, not a statewide rule.

Maddy summaryHB 205 allows Cabarrus County Schools to set an earlier student start date (no earlier than August 19, instead of the standard August 26) for the 2025-2026 school year, provided the district meets specific "good cause" criteria. This requires demonstrating that schools in the county experienced at least eight emergency closures (due to weather, power outages, etc.) over four of the past ten years. The bill maintains the requirement for sufficient instructional days and applies only to Cabarrus County Schools, not other districts. It becomes effective upon enactment for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 203, the Home Warranty Act, regulates home service agreements (commonly called home warranties) sold to North Carolina consumers. It requires companies to clearly list covered items, detail exclusions in bold, provide cancellation rights with pro-rata refunds, and maintain an updated vendor list. The bill mandates repairs for critical systems (like heating or bathroom fixtures) within five business days or cover out-of-network service. It does not apply to manufacturer warranties, appliance dealers selling their own agreements, or builder warranties. This directly affects home warranty companies and consumers purchasing these agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 200 allows Pender County Schools to align their academic calendar with Cape Fear Community College's schedule, instead of following North Carolina's standard requirement for schools to open no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26. This exception applies exclusively to Pender County Schools and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill modifies existing law to permit this calendar alignment without requiring a "good cause" waiver for weather or emergencies. It does not change calendar rules for any other school districts in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 204 restores local government authority to initiate down-zoning in Cabarrus County and its municipalities by removing the requirement for all affected property owners' written consent. The bill amends state law to allow county or municipal governments to change zoning (e.g., reducing density or permitted building types) without unanimous owner approval, as long as the change is government-initiated. This directly affects property owners in Cabarrus County whose land may be subject to zoning changes that limit development potential. The law applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, meaning existing down-zoning actions taken after that date under the previous rule would be invalid.

Maddy summaryHB 195 restores Chatham County and its municipalities' authority to change zoning to reduce development density or permitted land uses (down-zoning) without needing written consent from all affected property owners. It specifically amends state law to remove the requirement for all property owner consent when local governments initiate down-zoning, which was previously required under a 2024 law. The bill applies exclusively to Chatham County and takes effect retroactively to December 11, 2024, meaning any down-zoning ordinances affected by the prior law will revert to their pre-December 11 status. This directly impacts property owners in Chatham County whose land might be subject to zoning changes that limit future development or uses.