Rep. Carla Cunningham

Maddy summaryHB 73, the Energy Security Act of 2025, requires all public utilities in North Carolina to install and maintain 24-hour security systems at their substations to protect against vandalism and other security threats. This law directly affects electric utilities operating substations across the state, mandating continuous operation of these security systems starting July 1, 2025. The bill amends North Carolina General Statutes to add Section 62-334, specifying the security requirements without creating new funding or penalties. It focuses on physical security measures for critical infrastructure without altering utility rates or service standards.

Maddy summaryHB 61 increases penalties for assaulting certain emergency personnel with a firearm in North Carolina. It reclassifies assaults against law enforcement officers, probation/parole officers, National Guard members, detention facility staff, emergency medical technicians, medical responders, firefighters, and law enforcement telecommunicators as a Class B1 felony (instead of Class D) when committed during their duties. The bill specifically targets firearm assaults, making them punishable by more severe prison sentences. This law takes effect December 1, 2025, for offenses occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 60 increases Medicaid dental reimbursement rates from 35% to 46% of average dentist charges (2023 rates) to align with neighboring states. The bill allocates $52 million annually from North Carolina's General Fund, matched by $95 million in federal funds, to cover this rate increase starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects dentists who accept Medicaid patients and Medicaid beneficiaries seeking dental care, aiming to boost provider participation and prevent costly emergency treatments. The change addresses years of stagnant rates that reduced dental provider enrollment in Medicaid.

Maddy summaryHB 39 excludes motor vehicles owned by veterans with a 100% disability rating certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from North Carolina property tax. It amends state tax law to add these vehicles as a designated exempt class under G.S. 105-275. The exclusion applies to vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects eligible disabled veterans who own motor vehicles, reducing their property tax burden. The bill does not change eligibility criteria or tax rates for other vehicle classes.

Maddy summaryHB 55 appropriates $250,000 annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Autism Society of North Carolina's IGNITE Program. The funds will support activities and education groups designed to help young adults with autism develop independence and social skills during their transition to adulthood. This recurring funding applies to the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and becomes effective July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects the Autism Society of North Carolina and the young adults with autism it serves through the IGNITE Program.

Maddy summaryHB 54 allocates $125,000 annually from the General Fund (2025-2027) to fund training programs developed by the NC Association of People Supporting Employment First (NC APSE). The training, delivered via online modules, will help employers, service providers, and other entities support individuals with serious mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities in finding and keeping competitive jobs. It focuses on evidence-based supported employment practices to improve job placement and retention. The bill directly affects individuals with these disabilities and the organizations that serve them, with training available statewide starting July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 36 requires North Carolina's Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to improve maintenance at all four state veterans cemeteries, directly affecting veterans' families and cemetery operations. The bill mandates addressing specific issues like headstone installation delays, equipment damage to graves, drainage problems, debris, and poor grounds appearance, while allowing military groups to volunteer for upkeep. It also directs the department to review and adjust funeral service policies, including chapel-only options, service duration, attendee limits, and grave visitation rules during services. The department must submit a report on these changes to legislative committees by October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally honors the life and public service of Kelly Miller Alexander, Jr., a former North Carolina state representative who served from 2009 to 2024. The resolution recognizes his extensive community work, including his leadership roles in the NAACP and various local commissions, as well as his legislative focus on issues like criminal justice reform and healthcare access. It expresses the General Assembly's appreciation for his contributions to the state and offers condolences to his family following his death in September 2024. The measure directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to his family and takes effect upon ratification.

Maddy summaryThis amendment to House Bill 75 makes the entire bill contingent on the passage of a separate Senate Bill 3 in the 2023 Regular Session. It does not establish new rules for physician assistants or change their practice standards directly. Instead, it functions as a procedural condition, ensuring that the proposed team-based practice changes only take effect if the related Senate legislation is also approved. If Senate Bill 3 fails to become law, this amendment renders the current House Bill void and inactive.

Maddy summaryHB 984 creates a new legal process in North Carolina that allows property owners to request law enforcement agencies to quickly remove people who are occupying their private residential homes without permission. To use this process, an owner must file a sworn complaint stating that the occupants are not tenants, have no legal right to the property, and have been told to leave, while also confirming there is no ongoing lawsuit between the parties. If a police department or sheriff's office verifies the complaint, they are required to remove the unauthorized individuals within 48 hours and may arrest them for trespassing or other offenses. The bill also establishes that property owners must pay for police time if they request officers to stay on site to help change locks or secure the property, and it provides a way for removed individuals to sue for damages if the removal was done incorrectly.