Rep. Laura Budd

Maddy summaryHB 145 appropriates $50 million in one-time state funds to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) for the development of a diabetes research institute. This bill directly affects UNC-CH as the recipient of the funds and will support diabetes research activities at the university. The funds are designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and become effective July 1, 2025. The legislation is a straightforward funding allocation with no policy changes beyond the specified financial commitment.

Maddy summaryHB 148 allows Jackson, Swain, and Transylvania County Schools to start the school year earlier than the standard date (as early as August 19 instead of August 26) if they can prove they averaged at least eight weather-related school closures annually over the past decade. The bill specifically targets these three counties and requires them to maintain sufficient instructional days despite the earlier start. It does not change statewide calendar rules but creates a limited exception for qualifying districts based on documented emergency closure history. The change would apply beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 151 permits Wake County Schools to align their academic calendar with the schedule of local community colleges, removing the standard requirement that schools open no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 and close no later than the Friday closest to June 11. This specifically applies only to Wake County Schools and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill modifies existing law to allow this calendar alignment without needing a "good cause" waiver for weather-related closures. It directly affects Wake County students, staff, and community colleges by creating a coordinated academic schedule.

Maddy summaryHB 138 allows Gates County Schools to align their academic calendar with the College of the Albemarle’s schedule, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill amends state law to permit this alignment without requiring a "good cause" waiver for weather-related closures, though existing waiver rules for severe weather remain unchanged. It directly affects Gates County Schools and their students, staff, and community college partners. The provision applies exclusively to Gates County and does not alter minimum instructional day requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 132 allows Cumberland County Schools to set an earlier school start date (as early as August 19, instead of the standard August 26) if they demonstrate "good cause" based on historical emergency closures. Specifically, it requires the county to show schools were closed eight days per year during any four of the last ten years due to weather, power failures, or other emergencies. The bill modifies existing calendar rules to accommodate this flexibility while ensuring schools still meet minimum instructional day requirements. This change applies only to Cumberland County Schools and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 131 reinstates a 35% tax credit for businesses and homeowners who install solar energy systems in North Carolina. Businesses can claim the credit over five years (with a $2.5 million maximum per installation), while homeowners receive capped credits based on system type (e.g., $1,400 for water heating, $3,500 for space heating). The credit applies to equipment placed in service in the state and expires for new installations after 2017, though projects meeting 2015 construction milestones qualify for extension. This bill renews a previously expired tax incentive program for solar energy adoption.

Maddy summaryHB 129, the "Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Judicial Elections Act," reestablishes nonpartisan elections for all North Carolina judicial offices, including Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and superior and district court judges. The bill requires candidates to run without party labels, with primaries held only when more than two candidates file for an office, and winners elected based on highest vote totals (using a random draw only in tie situations). It also restores public financing for judicial campaigns, aiming to reduce partisan influence in judicial races. This bill directly affects judicial candidates, voters, and the election process for all statewide and local judicial positions in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 115 exempts properly licensed child care facilities from property tax if they are used exclusively for child care. It applies to facilities operating under North Carolina's child care licensing rules (Chapter 110) and excludes both the building and necessary adjacent land from taxation. Partial exemptions are allowed if only part of a facility serves child care, but facilities on probation or with suspended licenses lose the exemption. The tax exemption takes effect for property taxes due on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 109 reclassifies strangulation-related assaults in North Carolina by increasing penalties based on the severity of injury. It creates three felony tiers: a Class F felony for assaults causing serious bodily injury (like permanent disfigurement or coma), a Class H G felony for strangulation causing physical injury, and a Class H felony for any strangulation assault. The bill defines "serious bodily injury" and "strangulation" to clarify legal standards for prosecutors and courts. It applies to offenses committed on or after June 1, 2025, directly affecting individuals convicted of strangulation assaults.

Maddy summaryHB 108, "The Sober Operator Act of 2025," lowers North Carolina's legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving from 0.08% to 0.05% for all vehicles and vessels. It directly affects all drivers, requiring them to maintain a lower BAC level and facing faster license revocation if they refuse tests or exceed the new limit. Key provisions include mandating video recording of impaired driving court proceedings for transparency, requiring impaired drivers to cover processing costs, and allowing repeat offenders to prove sobriety to regain driving privileges. The bill also streamlines evidence rules by admitting BAC test results to reduce court delays and ensures equal treatment in impaired driving cases.