Rep. Jake Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 598, titled "Live Event Ticketing Protections and Reforms," aims to create consumer protections for individuals purchasing tickets for live entertainment events, particularly in the secondary market. The bill requires ticket issuers, resellers, and secondary ticket exchanges to clearly display the total ticket price, including all mandatory fees, from the initial listing and prohibits price increases during a single ticketing session. It prevents primary ticket issuers from restricting a purchaser's ability to resell tickets on their chosen platform or from setting minimum/maximum resale prices. Additionally, secondary ticket exchanges would be prohibited from using website addresses that are similar to the name of an event, performer, or venue.

Maddy summaryHB 765, titled "Save the American Dream Act," introduces new requirements for fiscal notes concerning housing affordability at both state and local levels. The bill mandates that the state's Fiscal Research Division prepare a five-year fiscal note for any proposed state legislation that could impact the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Similarly, it requires county and city governments to prepare a fiscal note for local ordinances that could affect these same costs. These local notes must be made public at least five days before the ordinance is introduced.

Maddy summaryHB 57 officially designates the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, located in Transylvania County, as the State's Veterans History Museum. This bill amends Chapter 145 of the General Statutes to formalize this adoption.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 773 proposes changes to how North Carolina public schools (K-12) are graded on their performance. The bill modifies the calculation of school achievement scores by altering the specific student proficiency measures used across different grade levels and shifts from a composite weighting to giving equal weight to each achievement element. It also revises the calculation of school growth scores, specifying which achievement measures contribute to growth for each grade band and adding metrics for students in the lowest 25% for English Language Arts and mathematics. These adjustments directly impact how the State Board of Education assigns overall performance scores and grades to schools.

Maddy summaryHB 406, titled "Clarify Motor Vehicle Dealer Laws," revises regulations affecting motor vehicle manufacturers and dealerships. The bill makes it unlawful for manufacturers to unreasonably prevent the transfer or sale of a dealership, or to condition such approvals on requirements like facility construction or granting a right of first refusal. It also prohibits manufacturers from considering an applicant's past legal actions against other manufacturers or prior denials by other manufacturers when evaluating a dealership transfer. Additionally, the bill stipulates that manufacturers cannot terminate or cancel a dealer's franchise without demonstrating good cause and good faith, with the franchise remaining in effect during the Commissioner's review process.

Maddy summaryHB 261 establishes new sentence enhancements for individuals convicted of certain crimes. It increases the severity of a felony sentence (excluding Class A) if the person was unlawfully in the United States and had prior immigration issues, raising the felony by one or two classes. The bill also enhances sentences for felonies (excluding Class A) and misdemeanors committed while conspiring with others to benefit or promote criminal activity. For these offenses, the sentence is increased by one class, or a Class A1 misdemeanor becomes a Class I felony. These enhancements apply if the specific conditions are proven beyond a reasonable doubt during trial.

Maddy summaryHB 575, known as "The Hunter Robinson Act," revises North Carolina's laws governing post-release supervision for criminal offenders. The bill modifies how the "maximum imposed term" is calculated for prisoners serving consecutive sentences by adjusting the months deducted based on felony class. It also changes when prisoners become eligible for post-release supervision and extends the required length of the supervision period for most felony categories. These changes generally result in longer post-release supervision terms for affected offenders. The act applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 156 sets minimum standards for stop loss, catastrophic, and reinsurance coverage provided to small employers in North Carolina. It directly affects small employers (defined as those with fewer than 12 eligible employees) and insurers selling these specific insurance products. The bill requires insurers to maintain a minimum annual attachment point of $20,000 per individual (adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index) and a minimum aggregate attachment point of either 120% of expected claims or $20,000 per year. These standards apply to all new, renewed, or amended insurance contracts issued on or after October 1, 2025.

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.