Rep. Tricia Cotham

Maddy summaryHB 314 creates a faster legal process for property owners (or their authorized representatives) to remove people occupying their residential property without legal right, excluding tenants who have overstayed their lease. To use this process, the owner must file a sworn affidavit with the clerk of court (paying a $25 fee) proving the occupant entered unlawfully after the owner acquired the property, was told to leave, paid no rent, and isn’t a tenant. Law enforcement must remove the occupant within 24 hours of receiving the affidavit, with the owner able to change locks afterward. The bill specifically excludes occupants with valid leases or rental agreements and requires proof that no other legal agreement or payment exists.

Maddy summaryHB 320 would allow the Town of Pineville to establish a reserve police division, authorizing the town council to pay reserve officers for time spent on active duty. The bill amends Pineville's charter to add a new section specifying that compensation rates must be set by the town council and paid directly to reserve officers. This change directly affects Pineville's local government and future reserve police members by creating a formal structure for compensating their active service. The bill does not alter existing police staffing or duties but provides a legal framework for a paid reserve program.

Maddy summaryHB 2 requires North Carolina public high schools to accept cash for admission to interscholastic athletic events and provide free entry to seniors with a Tar Heel Card (issued by the Department of Health and Human Services). It directly affects students, families, and seniors attending high school sports events by changing payment rules for admission fees. The bill mandates that schools must accept cash at the gate and honor Tar Heel Cards for free admission upon presentation. These requirements apply starting the 2025-2026 school year. The law amends state education rules governing athletic activity fees.

Maddy summaryHB 265 allows Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) to align its academic calendar with the schedule of local community colleges, removing the requirement that CMS follow the standard August 26 opening date and June 11 closing date. The bill directly affects CMS, enabling it to coordinate school terms with community college calendars for better scheduling flexibility. Key provisions include waiving the standard date rules for CMS while requiring compliance with minimum instructional day requirements. This change applies only to CMS and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

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 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 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 176 allows Kannapolis City Schools to start the school year as early as August 19 (instead of the standard August 26) if they demonstrate "good cause" - specifically, if the district has experienced at least eight emergency closures (due to weather, power outages, etc.) in any four of the past ten years. This exception applies only to Kannapolis for the 2025-2026 school year and does not change state requirements for other North Carolina school districts. The bill requires schools to still meet minimum instructional day requirements, and the change only affects Kannapolis’ calendar, not broader state education rules.

Maddy summaryHB 177 requires North Carolina's State Human Resources Commission (SHRC) to review job requirements across state agencies and identify positions where a four-year college degree is unnecessary. The bill directs the SHRC to replace degree requirements with alternative qualifications like military service, apprenticeships, or trade school training where appropriate, and to remove unnecessary degree language from job postings. This policy change directly affects state job applicants who may qualify through non-degree pathways. The SHRC must report annually starting October 2025 on progress toward reducing these barriers.

Maddy summaryHB 158 allows Warren County Schools, Weldon City Schools, Halifax County Schools, and Roanoke Rapids Graded School District to set an earlier school start date (as early as August 19) for the 2025-2026 school year, instead of the standard August 26 date. This flexibility applies only if the district demonstrates "good cause" by showing at least eight school closure days per year over the last decade due to weather, power failures, or emergencies. The bill amends state law to waive the standard opening date requirement for these specific districts while maintaining minimum instructional day requirements. It does not change closing dates or apply to other school districts in North Carolina.