Rep. Jordan Lopez

Maddy summaryHB 787 establishes a matching program for North Carolina residents contributing to the Parental Savings Trust Fund (a 529 program) and creates a tax deduction for such contributions. It provides a 2:1 state match (up to $1,500 per student annually) for eligible contributors - North Carolina residents with household income under 250% of the federal poverty level who open accounts for children aged 14 or younger. The bill also allows a state tax deduction of up to $2,000 per individual ($4,000 for joint filers) for contributions to the fund, with rules to adjust income if funds are withdrawn for non-education purposes. These changes aim to boost college savings for lower-income families, with the matching program starting July 1, 2025, and the tax deduction effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 798 appropriates $1.72 million annually from the General Fund to create a Cold Weather Shelters Grant Program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging. The program provides grants to municipalities and nonprofits to establish or expand temporary emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness during severe weather events. Grants are limited to $215,000 per recipient annually, with selection considering poverty rates in the service area and existing funding availability. Recipients must report annually on shelter usage, funds spent, and the number of people served, starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 786, the "Working Families Act," reduces child care costs for low-income families by lowering parent copayments from 10% to 7% of income (effective 2025), reinstates a refundable state child tax credit with income-based payments (effective 2025), and phases up North Carolina’s minimum wage to $15/hour by 2030 with annual inflation adjustments. It also increases income limits for property tax relief, creates a homebuyers’ assistance program for public servants (like firefighters and EMTs) as first-time buyers, and establishes a paid family leave insurance program funded through an employer grant program. The bill directly affects working families, hourly workers, public-sector employees, and households using subsidized child care or property tax relief. Key mechanisms include phased wage increases, income-tiered tax credits, and targeted housing support, all designed to reduce financial strain on low-to-moderate-income households.

Maddy summaryHB 711 phases out North Carolina's corporate income tax for C Corporations over time, reducing the rate from 2.25% in 2025 to 0% after 2029. The bill directly affects C Corporations operating in North Carolina, which would pay progressively lower taxes until the tax is eliminated entirely. Key provisions include specific tax rates for taxable years beginning in 2025 (2.25%), 2026 (2%), 2028 (1%), and 0% after 2029. The bill is effective for tax years starting January 1, 2026, and does not change tax treatment for S Corporations.

Maddy summaryHB 733, the "Everybody Eats Act," would allow North Carolina to bypass federal rules that block food assistance benefits for people convicted of certain drug-related felony offenses (Class H or I). It requires individuals to complete substance abuse treatment or avoid new drug offenses for six months after release or conviction to qualify for benefits, and extends the period for renewing eligibility from less than a year to 12 months. The bill directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals with specific drug felony convictions who meet treatment or offense-free conditions. It makes no changes to federal law but adjusts North Carolina's program implementation for food assistance and temporary aid.

Maddy summaryHB 725, the "MOMnibus 3.0," establishes a state grant program to address preventable maternal health disparities affecting Black birthing people in North Carolina. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants ($10,000-$50,000 per recipient) to community-based organizations focused on improving maternal health outcomes for Black women. Key provisions require grantees to address social barriers (like housing, transportation, and nutrition), provide culturally respectful care training for health workers, and offer services including mental health support, doula care, and evidence-based education. The program specifically prioritizes Black-led organizations serving communities with high maternal health disparities, aiming to reduce preventable deaths and complications through targeted community support.

Maddy summaryHB 730 requires North Carolina state agencies to provide information about services in the five most common non-English languages spoken by residents, as determined by the latest U.S. Census data. It directs agencies to submit English materials to the Department of Administration for translation into those languages, with specific guidance for "Chinese" (using Mandarin unless Cantonese is requested). The bill allocates nearly $5.5 million in recurring funds for translation services and mandates that translated materials be published alongside English versions starting January 1, 2027. This directly affects state agencies responsible for public services and aims to improve access for non-English-speaking residents.

Maddy summaryHB 668 establishes a program to expand free tax preparation assistance in North Carolina through two key components. It allocates $1.38 million (including $790,000 nonrecurring and $610,000 recurring annually) to fund community colleges to create tax preparation courses and paid work-study opportunities for students, enabling them to become IRS-certified VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) preparers. Additionally, it appropriates $840,000 to the United Way of North Carolina to increase VITA locations, hire staff, provide multilingual resources, and offer financial education. The bill directly helps low-income North Carolinians (earning under $67,000 annually, with disabilities, or limited English proficiency) who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit but often miss claiming it, by expanding access to free tax filing services starting July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 677 requires North Carolina movie theaters with more than 10 weekly showings to provide open captioning (on-screen text for dialogue and sounds) for at least one-fourth of showings for movies with four or more showings per week. Theaters must advertise captioned showings in the same way as other showings, keep compliance records for three years, and face $100-$500 penalties per violation for noncompliance. This applies to theaters showing movies with four or more weekly showings, excluding films produced without captioning. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and focuses on ensuring accessible viewing during peak attendance hours where possible.

Maddy summaryHB 706 changes how North Carolina allocates public school capital funds by eliminating the use of the Department of Commerce's economic development tier designations. Instead, it requires funding to be based on either a county's adjusted property value (with specific matching percentages) or HUD-designated poverty areas. The bill affects all public K-12 schools, community colleges, and UNC institutions receiving state education funds, prohibiting agencies from using Commerce's economic tiers for allocation starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It also repeals prior sections allowing tier-based funding and mandates equal per-school allocations for certain cooperative high schools. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, for new grant applications.