Rep. Lindsey Prather

Maddy summaryHB 488 modifies North Carolina's school grading system to separate achievement (current student performance) and growth (improvement over time) scores for all schools. It requires the State Board of Education to assign distinct letter grades (A-F) for both achievement and growth using specific scoring scales (e.g., 85+ for an A in achievement, 90+ for an A in growth). Schools must display both grades prominently on their websites, and parents of students at schools earning a D or F in either category receive written notice. The overall school performance grade combines achievement (80%) and growth (20%) scores on a 100-point scale. This bill directly affects all public schools in North Carolina and their reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 494 prohibits therapists from attempting to change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It specifically protects minors and adults with disabilities from these practices, which major medical associations have deemed ineffective and harmful. The bill bases this prohibition on consensus from organizations like the American Psychological Association and American Medical Association, citing risks such as depression, self-hatred, and suicide. It aligns with professional standards that affirm LGBTQ+ identities rather than seeking to alter them.

Maddy summaryHB 495, the "Accessing Midwives Act," establishes a licensing system for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in North Carolina. It requires CPMs to obtain a state license to practice midwifery care - covering pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support - while exempting existing Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), physicians, and emergency care. The bill creates the North Carolina Council of Midwives to set standards and oversee licensing, with members including CPMs, physicians, and community representatives. This directly affects CPMs seeking legal practice and aims to standardize midwifery care under state regulation.

Maddy summaryHB 493 creates confidential reporting and resolution procedures for workplace harassment in North Carolina's General Assembly, affecting all legislators, staff (including part-time/temporary employees), volunteers, and pages. It requires mandatory annual training on preventing harassment and discrimination, establishes clear consequences for violations, and mandates a confidential investigation process handled by an independent third party. The bill appropriates $250,000 to fund training materials, infrastructure, and the independent investigator for the 2025-2027 fiscal years. These changes apply to all workplace interactions, including legislative events and business-related activities, with specific disciplinary actions ranging from warnings to expulsion for legislators.

Maddy summaryHB 484 authorizes North Carolina's African American Heritage Commission to study creating monuments and markers honoring the state's civil rights history, including sites related to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, sit-ins, and desegregation efforts. The bill directly affects the Commission, which must hold public hearings and report findings by May 2026, and North Carolinians by commemorating local contributions to the civil rights movement. Key provisions include appropriating $500,000 for the Commission to place markers along the state's Civil Rights Trail and conducting feasibility studies on permanent monuments. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, with funding allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 492 repeals Session Law 2023-106, commonly known as the "Parents' Bill of Rights," which previously established specific parental rights and access requirements in North Carolina schools. The bill removes these provisions, meaning schools are no longer required to comply with the specific rules outlined in the repealed law. The remaining sections of the bill make minor technical adjustments to other education statutes to align with the repeal, such as clarifying exemptions for schools for the deaf and blind, charter schools, and regional schools. This change directly affects school districts and educational institutions that were subject to the repealed law's requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 474, titled "Right to Use Contraception," declares that North Carolina recognizes the right to use contraception to prevent pregnancy as a fundamental liberty. It directly affects all residents who use contraception by stating the state has "no legitimate governmental interest in limiting the freedom to use contraception." The bill amends state law to add a new Article 44, explicitly prohibiting state restrictions on contraceptive access for pregnancy prevention. This is a declarative policy change, not a funding or program measure, and would become effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 473 protects patients' and healthcare providers' rights to access and provide assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), by prohibiting state interference. It defines ART broadly and explicitly states that fertilized eggs or embryos outside the uterus are not considered "human beings" under North Carolina law. The bill also appropriates $500,000 annually (starting July 2025) from the state General Fund to increase Medicaid maternal support services (the Baby Love Program), matching $913,000 in federal funds for the 2025-2027 biennium. This legislation directly affects patients seeking ART, healthcare providers offering these services, and Medicaid beneficiaries receiving maternal support.

Maddy summaryHB 475 creates a pilot program allowing high school students aged 16 and older in Mecklenburg, Randolph, Union, and Watauga counties to obtain a state-issued special identification card at no fee. The bill requires schools and the DMV to coordinate on two designated school days each year (before and after December 31) for students to apply, with schools providing necessary information to the DMV. It also permits schools to request certified birth certificates for applications without making them public records. The pilot program runs until December 31, 2027, and does not apply to other counties or age groups.

Maddy summaryHJR 461 is a symbolic resolution passed by North Carolina's legislature urging the U.S. Congress to enact federal legislation admitting Washington, D.C., as the 51st state. It does not create new laws or change DC's status but formally expresses support for statehood based on arguments like DC's population size, residents' tax contributions, and historical denial of voting rights in Congress. The resolution specifically asks Congress to pass the Washington, D.C., Admission Act (H.R. 51/S. 51), which would grant DC two U.S. Senators and at least one House member. It has no legal effect on DC's status but aims to pressure federal lawmakers to act on the issue. This is a procedural resolution, not a bill with binding policy changes.