Rep. Jordan Lopez

Maddy summaryHB 735 amends North Carolina's transportation funding rules to clarify state support for rail projects. It sets a 10% cap on state funds for commuter and light rail projects - limiting spending to either 10% of a regional funding allocation or 10% of the project's estimated cost. The bill also creates a new eligibility category for public transit services spanning four or more counties and serving over three municipalities. Additionally, it specifies that the state will not cover costs exceeding these funding limits, requiring project agreements to include these restrictions. The changes apply directly to regional transit authorities and developers seeking state funding for rail infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 646 is a constitutional amendment that would permanently ban all slavery and involuntary servitude in North Carolina, removing the current exception allowing forced labor as punishment for crimes. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, the amendment would change the state constitution to state that slavery and involuntary servitude are "forever prohibited" without any exceptions. This change would directly affect incarcerated individuals by ending the legal basis for requiring prison labor as punishment. The amendment requires voter approval through a statewide referendum before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 633 appropriates $1.678 million annually in recurring funds and additional nonrecurring funds to expand sickle cell disease services in North Carolina. The bill directly supports approximately 7,000 North Carolinians living with sickle cell disease by funding comprehensive medical centers (like Atrium Health, Duke, and UNC Chapel Hill), creating transition coordinators to help patients move from pediatric to adult care, and providing grants to community organizations in underserved areas. Key mechanisms include distributing $1.3 million yearly to medical centers for care coordination, allocating $75,000 annually per center for transition staff, and funding a statewide emergency department toolkit to improve acute care. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, with funds designated for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.

Maddy summaryThe Transportation for the Future Act reorganizes North Carolina's transportation funding to prioritize sustainable projects like public transit (including bus rapid transit and commuter rail), bike lanes, and pedestrian pathways. It requires at least 20% of transportation funds to be allocated to non-highway projects and caps state funding for commuter rail and light rail at 10% of project costs. The bill establishes three funding categories with project selection criteria emphasizing safety, congestion reduction, economic growth, and multimodal transportation. This change affects statewide transportation planning and funding decisions to modernize the system for future sustainability.

Maddy summaryHB 628 reenacts North Carolina's state-level child tax credit, which expired, to provide financial support to families with children. It directly affects low- and middle-income North Carolina residents who qualify under federal child tax credit rules, offering up to $250 per child annually based on household income. Key provisions include income-based credit amounts (e.g., $250 for married couples filing jointly with under $40,000 income) that phase out at higher earnings, and the credit is refundable - meaning families may receive cash payments even if they owe no state tax. The bill takes effect for 2025 tax years and mirrors the federal credit structure without creating new policy.

Maddy summaryHB 645 (Friendly NC Act) strengthens hate crime laws in North Carolina by expanding definitions to include offenses motivated by race, religion, nationality, or other protected characteristics. It increases penalties for hate-motivated misdemeanors (elevating them to Class 1 misdemeanors or felonies) and creates new felony charges for hate-motivated serious bodily injury. Victims gain civil remedies (including emotional distress damages and attorney fees) and can request restorative justice sessions with trained facilitators, paid for by the offender. The bill directly affects individuals who commit hate crimes and victims of such offenses, aiming to promote inclusivity through enhanced legal protections.

Maddy summaryHB 621 appropriates $1.5 million from North Carolina's General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to Safe Alliance, Inc. for its Umbrella Center in Charlotte. The funds will directly support the center's services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking by enabling additional land acquisition and a deceleration lane. The bill requires the funds to be used specifically for expanding these victim services and infrastructure. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and is currently pending in the House Appropriations Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 619, the Health Care Security Act, repeals a law that would have ended Medicaid expansion coverage in North Carolina if federal funding dropped below 90%. This change directly affects the state's Medicaid expansion population, ensuring their coverage remains secure regardless of federal funding fluctuations. The bill removes a specific statutory trigger (G.S. 108A-54.3C) that previously threatened automatic discontinuation of benefits. It does not create new programs or alter eligibility but prevents coverage loss due to federal funding changes. The act becomes effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 589, "The Second Look Act," allows North Carolina courts to reduce prison sentences for certain inmates who have served significant time. It directly affects people sentenced under specific laws (like those for violent crimes) who have served at least 10 years in prison or 50% of their sentence if under 10 years. Courts must consider factors like the person’s age, rehabilitation progress, community safety, and victim input before reducing a sentence. The bill takes effect December 1, 2025, and applies to requests filed after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 583 allows North Carolina law enforcement agencies to destroy unclaimed firearms (after 180 days of storage) or firearms confiscated following certain convictions, directly affecting police departments managing large inventories. The bill requires agencies to publish a 180-day notice in a local newspaper before disposing of unclaimed firearms, with a 30-day claim period afterward. Firearms without legible identification numbers or deemed unsafe may be destroyed, while those with valid IDs can be sold to licensed dealers, with proceeds funding public schools. This addresses the storage burden of over 74,000 firearms held by police, reducing risks of theft or accidents from long-term storage. The law amends existing statutes to streamline disposal without requiring court orders for most cases.