Rep. Lindsey Prather

Maddy summaryHB 445 reinstates education-based salary supplements for teachers, instructional support staff (including school social workers), and requires school districts to publicly post minimum salary schedules for occupational and physical therapists. The bill allocates $8 million in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund these supplements, using a 2013 salary policy framework to determine eligibility based on academic degrees. School districts must publish therapist salary schedules online by October 15 each year, differentiating pay by experience in five-year intervals. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting educators and therapists in North Carolina public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 453 increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for two specific services in North Carolina. It raises the rate for personal care services (e.g., help with daily tasks) to $7.50 per 15-minute increment for beneficiaries in programs like State Plan Personal Care Services and Community Alternatives programs. It also increases private duty nursing rates to $16.25 per 15 minutes for both children under 21 and adults, using state funds to match federal support. The changes, effective July 1, 2025, will directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries receiving these services through approved programs.

Maddy summaryHB 456, the "No Surprises for Ambulance Services Act," prevents unexpected high costs for ambulance services by requiring health insurance companies to cover both emergency and non-emergency ground ambulance transport without surprise bills. Specifically, it caps out-of-network cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for ambulance services at 110% of what would apply for in-network providers, ensuring patients aren’t charged more for using an ambulance outside their insurance network. This directly affects insured individuals who use ambulance services, especially in emergencies or when they cannot choose a network provider. The law also mandates insurers to clearly disclose coverage details for emergency services, including cost-sharing and how to access care.

Maddy summaryHB 460, the Medical Equipment Right to Repair Act, requires medical device manufacturers to provide hospitals, clinics, and independent repair shops with necessary support documents, tools, and parts to maintain and repair medical imaging (like MRI and X-ray machines) and radiation therapy equipment. The law mandates that manufacturers make these resources available at no cost (except for printing/shipping fees), automatically notify owners of updates, and offer the same training to independent repairers as they provide to their own authorized service teams. It prohibits manufacturers from restricting access to security systems or using agreements to avoid these requirements, while protecting trade secrets and limiting liability for repair-related damage. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to equipment in use after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 448 creates a temporary sales tax exemption in North Carolina for specific firearm storage equipment designed to prevent unauthorized access. The exemption applies to devices like gun safes, lockboxes, biometric locks, and similar home-use storage, but excludes display cases. It directly affects firearm owners purchasing qualifying storage solutions, eliminating the state sales tax on these items. The exemption is limited to sales between October 1, 2025, and October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 446 prevents law enforcement from sharing booking photographs (taken during initial arrest) with websites or publications that require payment to remove the photos. It requires those "pay-to-remove" sites to delete such photos within seven business days if the person was not convicted (and provides proof of dismissal, acquittal, or expungement). Sites that fail to comply face civil penalties, including $100 per day for each day the photo remains visible. This directly affects individuals arrested but not convicted and "pay-to-remove" online platforms.

Maddy summaryHB 21 creates a voluntary designation on North Carolina driver's licenses for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as defined by state law. People with a medical diagnosis of ASD can request this designation by providing acceptable documentation, such as a healthcare professional's certification, to the Division of Motor Vehicles. The designation appears only in the license record and is accessible solely to law enforcement during interactions to promote safety - no other use is permitted. Individuals may add or remove the designation at any time without affecting their license eligibility or rights.

Maddy summaryHB 37 standardizes monthly pension benefits for North Carolina firefighters and rescue squad workers under the state pension fund. It sets a uniform $175 monthly pension for members with 20+ years of service who reach age 55, replaces the previous $180 amount, and maintains $175 for disability benefits and line-of-duty death benefits. The bill also allows members affected by city annexations or department closures to continue contributing $15 monthly until they reach 20 years of service for pension eligibility. These changes apply to current and future members of the pension fund who meet the service requirements. The bill does not alter contribution rates or eligibility for most members but adjusts benefit amounts and extends certain provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 438 requires North Carolina employers to provide employees working six-hour shifts or longer with at least one 20-minute paid rest break, scheduled near the middle of the workday. The bill directly affects workers in North Carolina covered by the Wage and Hour Act, mandating employers offer this break (though employees may decline it). Employers who fail to comply face civil penalties of up to $100 for a first violation and $500 for subsequent violations, with penalties adjusted for business size and violation severity. The law takes effect upon enactment and applies to all employment in North Carolina on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 428 directs North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction to study how increased parent involvement might reduce repeated student discipline issues. The study will examine specific approaches, such as requiring parents to attend meetings or counseling with their child after discipline incidents, and assess impacts of remote learning alternatives. It explicitly excludes students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 plans and must be completed by April 2026. The $25,000 allocated for the study will result in a report with recommendations for potential policy changes, but the bill itself does not change current discipline practices.