Rep. Paul Scott

Maddy summaryHB 893 limits how much North Carolina's Chiropractic Board can charge chiropractors for disciplinary actions, capping costs at $1,000 for settled cases and $3,000 for cases with a full hearing. It requires the Board to provide itemized cost breakdowns and refund any overcharges. The bill also mandates that the Board keep detailed, accurate meeting minutes, including summaries of public comments and vote records. These changes directly affect chiropractors facing disciplinary proceedings under the Board's jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryHB 53 would increase property damage thresholds for classifying at-fault car accidents under North Carolina's Safe Driver Incentive Plan. It raises the "major" accident threshold from $3,850 to $5,975, the "intermediate" range from $2,300-$3,850 to $3,570-$5,975, and sets a new "minor" threshold at $3,570 or less. This change would reduce surcharges for drivers involved in property damage accidents below these higher thresholds. The bill would take effect October 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 848 establishes a pilot program for Cleveland County Schools (2025-2026 through 2030-2031) that allows flexibility in staffing to improve student outcomes. It permits up to 50% of teachers per school and 25% district-wide to be unlicensed, provided they complete specific training on disability education, behavior management, and safety protocols. The program requires annual reporting on staffing, class sizes, fund usage, and student success metrics to oversight committees. It directly affects Cleveland County Schools' hiring practices, teacher qualifications, and resource allocation for K-3 classrooms and NC Pre-K programs. The pilot ends December 2031 unless extended.

Maddy summaryHB 838 creates a new satellite broadband grant program for the Department of Information Technology, prioritizing eligible entities (like state/local governments, nonprofits, and ISPs) in the 39 counties affected by Hurricane Helene to purchase satellite internet installation materials and service for their own use. It also repurposes up to $50 million from existing broadband funds to reimburse communications providers for repairing Hurricane Helene-damaged broadband infrastructure, with priority given to restoring service and limits on reimbursement. The bill updates the Broadband Pole Replacement Program to clarify reimbursement rules (50% of eligible costs, capped at $10,000 per pole), requires pole owners to provide timely cost estimates for infrastructure work, and mandates public reporting of program data. These changes aim to accelerate broadband deployment and recovery in underserved areas impacted by the hurricane.

Maddy summaryHB 487 shortens the required separation period for retired assistant district attorneys and assistant public defenders before they can return to state employment. The bill changes North Carolina's retirement rules to allow these professionals to rejoin state work after 30 days instead of the standard six-month waiting period. This adjustment applies specifically to retired assistant district attorneys and public defenders who wish to return to state service. The policy change directly affects these two groups of retired state employees by providing greater flexibility for reemployment.

Maddy summaryHB 827 would require North Carolina sex offenders on the registry to pay an annual fee equal to 1.25% of the federal poverty level for a one-person household. Sheriffs would collect this fee each year on the anniversary of registration to fund registry maintenance, including verification and record-keeping. The fee can be waived for indigent individuals or those incarcerated, with written documentation required for all waiver requests. Failure to pay does not affect registration compliance, though counties may pursue collection later.

Maddy summaryHB 825 prohibits ranked choice voting in all North Carolina elections, including primaries and local board appointments. It shortens the early voting period to a single Saturday (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) before elections and clarifies buffer zones around polling places for election-related activities. The bill also tightens absentee ballot requirements, mandating voters provide specific ID details (like last four SSN digits or driver's license numbers) on request forms, with strict rules for alternative affidavits if physical ID is unavailable. These changes directly affect voters requesting absentee ballots and election administrators managing voting procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 471, the Food Labeling Transparency Act, requires manufacturers of cell-cultured and insect-based food products to clearly label items that use meat or poultry terms (like "beef," "chicken," or "burger") with qualifying terms such as "cell-cultured," "insect-based," or "lab-grown" in prominent, close proximity to the product name. This applies to products that mimic traditional meat or poultry but are made without animal slaughter, directly affecting manufacturers of these alternative protein products. The law mandates this labeling to prevent consumer confusion by ensuring the product’s origin is transparent, with enforcement starting October 1, 2025. It does not restrict the sale of these products but requires specific labeling to distinguish them from conventional meat.

Maddy summaryHB 791, the Women's Safety and Protection Act, defines "biological sex" (based on physical characteristics at birth) and "gender" in North Carolina law and mandates that single/multiple occupancy restrooms, changing facilities, and sleeping quarters in state-funded facilities (including public schools, prisons, domestic violence centers, and juvenile facilities) be designated for use by one biological sex at a time. The bill requires facilities to have policies ensuring only one biological sex uses these spaces simultaneously, with exceptions for family use, maintenance, medical emergencies, or safety threats. It specifically prohibits students from sharing sleeping quarters with individuals of another biological sex in public schools unless family members or with parental permission. The law applies to all covered facilities receiving state funds, including public schools and domestic violence centers, and subjects its provisions to "intermediate scrutiny" under constitutional review.

Maddy summaryHB 774 ("School Breakfast for All") mandates that all North Carolina public schools (pre-K through 12) provide free breakfast to every student, eliminating costs for families. It establishes a Farm-to-Table Initiative requiring schools to partner with local farmers for fresh, locally sourced ingredients in breakfast meals. The bill allocates $39 million in recurring state funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to cover program costs, while requiring annual reports on participation rates, costs, and impacts on student health and academic performance. This directly affects all public school students, school districts, and North Carolina agricultural producers.