Rep. Carla Cunningham

Maddy summaryHB 140 authorizes the addition of the Gullah Geechee Greenway/Blueway Heritage Trail to North Carolina's State Trails System. This bill adds a 21-mile multiuse trail in Brunswick County, designed for pedestrian and bicycle use, which connects various historical sites significant to Gullah Geechee culture. It directs the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to support and promote the trail's establishment and allows the State to acquire necessary land through donations or existing funds, waiving the usual appropriation requirement for new additions.

Maddy summaryHB 512 creates an exemption to the practice of veterinary medicine for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. This allows EMS personnel, excluding dispatchers, to provide emergency medical transport and services to injured K-9 police animals or certified search and rescue dogs at an emergency scene. The bill also grants limited immunity from prosecution for EMS personnel who act in good faith when providing such care. However, this immunity does not extend to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 146 amends North Carolina's driver's license renewal process. It allows active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, or reserve components serving on active duty and stationed outside North Carolina, to renew their driver's licenses remotely multiple times in a row. Currently, a remote renewal requires the previous renewal to have been done in person, but this bill removes that restriction for eligible military personnel. This change aims to make it easier for these individuals to maintain their licenses while serving away from the state. The act becomes effective October 1, 2025, applying to licenses renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 107 designates the second week of November each year as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) Awareness Week in North Carolina. Additionally, it encourages local boards of education to develop and offer seizure awareness training for school personnel who are responsible for students with epilepsy or who are otherwise predisposed to seizures. This training aims to provide school staff with information to support these students.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 648 clarifies the process for placing abused, neglected, or dependent juveniles in out-of-home care. It requires courts to first consider placing a juvenile with a willing and able relative, unless such placement is found to be contrary to the juvenile's best interests. Courts can only consider nonrelative placements after making specific findings of fact, such as the unavailability of a suitable relative. The bill also expands options for nonrelative placements to include former foster parents, nonrelative kin, or legal guardians of siblings, and allows for notification of State-recognized tribes to help locate caregivers.

Maddy summaryHB 570, the "Responsible Firefighting Foam Management Act," restricts the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS chemicals for training and testing. It prohibits any person, local government, or state agency from discharging Class B firefighting foam with intentionally added PFAS for training or practice purposes. For testing, these foams are also prohibited unless required by law or an authority, and the testing facility has implemented measures to prevent environmental releases. The bill mandates the use of non-fluorinated alternatives for training and is set to become effective on December 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 288 requires the official Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag to be displayed at all state-owned buildings and public schools in North Carolina. This applies whenever the United States flag is flown, provided an existing flagpole can accommodate the POW/MIA flag. The state will purchase these flags for state-owned buildings, while local boards of education may accept donations or use available funds for their schools.

Maddy summaryHB 956 aims to enhance financial protections for disabled adults and North Carolina residents aged 65 or older. It requires financial institutions and electronic fund transfer entities to report to county social services if they observe a pattern of financially harmful behavior or a six-month cessation of communication from these adults. During the period from when such issues are first noted (or a cognitive impairment diagnosis is made) until the report is submitted, these entities are prohibited from charging late fees, other penalties, or interest on loans to the affected adult. This bill amends existing law to ensure late payment charges are subject to these new protections, becoming effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 462, titled the "Personal Data Privacy/Social Media Safety Act," aims to protect North Carolinians by enacting two main components: the Personal Data Privacy Act and the Social Media Safety Act. The provided text details the "North Carolina Personal Data Privacy Act," which is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. This act establishes definitions for key terms such as "personal data," "biometric data," "precise geolocation data," and "consent," affecting North Carolina residents as "consumers" and entities that process their data as "controllers." It also outlines the framework for consumer rights regarding their personal data.

Maddy summaryHB 767 establishes the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Market Rate Compensation for Teachers. This commission will study public school teacher pay and benefits in North Carolina, comparing them to other states and professions, and analyze teacher attrition rates. Composed of legislators, gubernatorial appointees, and the State Superintendent, the commission will hold public meetings across the state. Its purpose is to gather data and provide legislative recommendations on teacher compensation to the General Assembly by the end of 2026.