Rep. Eric Ager

Maddy summaryHB 322 modifies North Carolina's public records law to require the General Assembly to follow the same record retention and disposal rules as other state agencies. It mandates that legislative records must be preserved for at least 10 years after a legislator leaves office (or until they have no further official use, whichever is longer) and requires the Legislative Services Officer to work with the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to create an inventory of these records. The bill repeals previous exemptions that allowed the General Assembly to unilaterally control its own records and ensures these records are subject to public access standards. This directly affects North Carolina legislators, their offices, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which will oversee record preservation and public access.

Maddy summaryHB 323 modifies zoning rules for Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville by requiring written consent from all property owners affected by down-zoning changes, unless the local government initiates the change. Down-zoning is defined as reducing land development density, limiting permitted uses, or creating nonconformities (e.g., nonconforming structures). The law applies exclusively to these three towns and takes effect upon enactment, with retroactive application to December 11, 2024. This policy change directly affects property owners in these municipalities by giving them a veto over zoning shifts that reduce their land's development potential.

Maddy summaryHB 325 establishes a two-year pilot program (2025-2026 and 2026-2027) to fund public school field trips to North Carolina's Legislative Building. It provides up to $2,000 per school for transportation costs (bus rental, fuel, driver pay) to participating schools, prioritizing those in counties designated as "Tier 1" under state law. The program is funded with $1.5 million annually from the General Fund, requiring schools to submit budget applications by October 1 and reporting usage to the legislature by February 15 each year. The bill directly affects public school units statewide, with priority given to schools in designated underserved counties.

Maddy summaryHB 316 reenacts North Carolina's Child Tax Credit to help families cover child care costs, with reimbursement percentages based on income and child age (e.g., 7-13% for dependents aged 6-12). It allocates $200 million annually to expand the NC Pre-K program, adding 32,000 slots for 4-year-olds, and $35 million to increase subsidized child care funding. The bill also requires public schools to provide free lunches at no cost to students through state funding tied to school nutrition evaluations. Additionally, it mandates a report on creating a high school child care apprenticeship program. The bill directly affects families with children, public schools, and child care providers across North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 326 requires North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to study ways to increase teacher planning time or reduce workloads that cut into it. The DPI must report to lawmakers by February 15, 2026, with specific recommendations, cost estimates, and other relevant findings. The bill allocates $5,000 in one-time funding for the study, which can include partnering with outside experts. This is a procedural study bill with no immediate policy changes; it aims to inform future decisions about teacher workloads in public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 289 adds one new seat to North Carolina's Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, specifically allowing the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association (PBA) to select a full-time sworn law enforcement officer to serve on the Commission. This amendment increases the Commission's membership from 35 to 36 members by adding the PBA representative to the existing list of appointed positions. The initial appointee selected by the PBA would serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025, with subsequent appointees serving three-year terms as determined by the PBA. The bill does not change training standards or requirements, only the composition of the Commission that oversees them.

Maddy summaryHB 299 increases the property tax exemption for disabled veterans in North Carolina from $45,000 to $54,000 of a home's appraised value. It directly affects qualifying disabled veterans who own and occupy their primary residence, allowing them to exclude a larger portion of their home's value from property taxes. The bill amends Section 105-277.1C of state law to reflect this higher exclusion limit, while maintaining that recipients cannot claim other property tax relief. This change takes effect for property taxes due on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 280 allocates $30,000 in one-time state funds to support the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature, a program for older residents to engage with state policy. The funding, from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, covers operational costs for this existing program established under state law. It directly affects the Senior Tar Heel Legislature by providing financial resources for its activities. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not create new policy but enables the program's continued operation.

Maddy summaryHB 269, the "Workforce Freedom and Protection Act," bans non-compete agreements for most North Carolina workers earning under $75,000 annually, prohibiting employers from restricting job mobility after termination or requiring such agreements as a condition of employment. It also directs the Legislative Research Commission to study occupational licensing requirements in key industries like construction, cosmetology, and healthcare to identify unnecessary barriers that may raise costs for consumers or limit job access. The study will evaluate licensing rules based on public safety justification, economic impact, and comparison to national standards, with recommendations for potential reforms. The bill does not immediately change existing licensing but sets a process for reviewing requirements that may disproportionately affect low- and moderate-income workers. The non-compete ban takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 267 automatically expunges court records for certain eviction cases in North Carolina, directly affecting tenants (defendants) in summary ejectment proceedings. It requires clerks to automatically delete records 30 days after cases are voluntarily dismissed before a possession order is issued. For cases where defendants win on the merits or lose but wait three years, they may petition for expungement after proving housing stability (e.g., consistent rent payments and no new eviction filings). The bill takes effect October 2025, with required court forms to be developed by September 2025.