Rep. Lindsey Prather

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 601 appropriates $10 million annually from North Carolina's General Fund (2025-2027) to fund grants for Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapters. The bill provides up to $1 million per chapter per year to renovate or expand facilities and offer additional resources directly to disabled veterans served by these nonprofit chapters. Grants must be distributed statewide, with unspent funds rolling over annually instead of returning to the state treasury. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs must report annually on grant recipients, amounts, and county distribution starting in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 603 creates a $40 million revolving loan fund within North Carolina's Housing Finance Agency to cover preconstruction costs (like land surveys, permits, and site work) for workforce housing projects. It directly affects developers building housing affordable to households earning 60%-120% of local median income, requiring them to contribute 20%-35% in project equity. The fund reserves 80% of loans for high-priority counties (tier 1-2) and 20% for other counties, with each loan capped at $1 million. The program requires annual reporting on loan details and becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 604 creates two grant programs to support economic development: the Rural Community Development Grant Program and the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program. Both programs allocate $40 million each from the state budget for 2025-2026, providing grants to local governments (counties and municipalities) to fund projects that improve community amenities like grocery stores, childcare, parks, or downtown infrastructure. Grants require a 1:1 local match, max $2 million per award, and must align with comprehensive plans for revitalization or community growth. The programs aim to reverse rural depopulation, attract business investment, and enhance downtown livability through targeted, competitive funding.

Maddy summaryHB 617 creates a $20 million grant program for North Carolina small farmers with gross income under $300,000, funding equipment (like harvest machinery), infrastructure (such as fencing), and cold storage. It also lowers the income threshold for farm sales tax exemption from $10,000 to $7,500 annually, expanding eligibility for tax relief. The bill directly affects small farmers meeting these income criteria by providing financial support through grants and reduced tax burdens. Grants require applications and prioritize those facing economic hardship, with funding allocated for specific purposes like equipment and the FarmsSHARE program.

Maddy summaryHB 588 aims to improve the number and quality of school psychologists in North Carolina through multiple funding initiatives. It provides a $650 monthly salary boost and a 12% supplement for certified school psychologists (totaling $8.1 million), establishes a $5 million grant program to fund signing bonuses (up to $5,000) for recruiting new psychologists with a one-year commitment requirement, and creates a $5 million internship program offering stipends at starting salaries. Additionally, it allocates $5 million for a virtual training program at Appalachian State University and $1.6 million to expand school psychology programs at five UNC institutions to double graduate output. The bill also includes an interstate licensure compact to facilitate practice across state lines, with all programs requiring annual reporting to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 571 appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund to the Department of Public Safety for a grant program treating police officers diagnosed with PTSD. It directly affects North Carolina police officers who have received a clinical PTSD diagnosis. The key provision establishes a state-funded grant program to cover treatment costs, with funds allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The program becomes effective July 1, 2025, and focuses solely on providing financial support for treatment, not on expanding eligibility or altering diagnosis standards.

Maddy summaryHB 551 aims to improve access to Clubhouse model programs for North Carolinians with severe mental illness by creating a statewide reimbursement system for these services. It requires the state mental health agency to develop a plan by 2026 that includes incentives for Clubhouses to gain accreditation, consistent funding rates across regions, and staff training. The bill allocates $2.5 million in recurring funds starting July 2026 to support accredited Clubhouses for current programs, expansion, accreditation costs, and staff training. It also mandates Medicaid coverage for services under this new reimbursement system, directly affecting individuals with severe mental illness and Clubhouse providers.

Maddy summaryHB 564 provides a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for retirees in North Carolina's Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, and Legislative Retirement System. It increases retirement payments for retirees who retired on or before specific dates (July 1, 2024, for most systems, or January 1, 2025, for the Legislative system) and offers a prorated increase for those retiring between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The bill appropriates $106.2 million from the General Fund to fund this adjustment, effective July 1, 2025. This policy change directly affects current retirees in these systems by increasing their monthly benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 550 updates North Carolina legislators' travel reimbursement rates to match the current federal IRS business mileage rate and federal employee per diem rates for meals and lodging, effective for travel starting in 2027. It directly affects all state legislators traveling for official legislative duties, including committee work and sessions. The bill sets mileage reimbursement to the IRS standard rate (referencing specific IRS notices) and aligns per diem allowances with federal rates for Raleigh-based travel, as detailed in the 2024 IRS notices. This eliminates separate state rates, instead tying allowances to ongoing federal updates. The change applies to all travel, including out-of-state trips where legislators may choose a flat $26/day meal rate plus lodging receipts.