Rep. Brian Turner

Maddy summaryHB 256 repeals North Carolina's current ban on public employee collective bargaining, allowing state and local government workers (like teachers, police, and administrative staff) to negotiate wages and working conditions with their employers. The bill removes existing legal restrictions (Article 12 of Chapter 95) and explicitly states that public employees' bargaining rights apply to all state and local government employers. It does not create new benefits or funding but aligns public sector bargaining rights with those already available to private sector employees. The bill’s key provision is the repeal of the prohibition, enabling public employees to collectively bargain under existing state law.

Maddy summaryHB 48 raises North Carolina's maximum weekly unemployment benefit from $350 to $400 for claimants filing on or after March 2, 2025, directly affecting unemployed workers. It also creates a 2025 tax credit for employers, allowing them to offset unemployment insurance taxes paid on 2024 fourth-quarter wages against their 2025 tax liability. The credit applies only to contributions remitted by January 31, 2025, and must be claimed via a specific report. The bill ratifies a governor's temporary disaster-related unemployment expansion but focuses on permanent changes to benefit levels and employer tax treatment.

Maddy summaryHB 238 appropriates $300,000 from the General Fund to reimburse Buncombe County for costs incurred while conducting a required study on merging the Buncombe County and Asheville school districts. The bill directly affects Buncombe County, which conducted the study mandated by S.L. 2023-128. The funds are designated as nonrecurring for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and become effective July 1, 2025. This is a straightforward reimbursement measure with no new policy requirements beyond the specified funding.

Maddy summaryHB 228 appropriates $25,000 in one-time state funds to the City of Asheville for a study on extending the city's water system to serve Pisgah View State Park. The study will assess the practicality, costs, and feasibility of building this water infrastructure extension. This bill directly affects Asheville and the new state park by funding preliminary analysis before any potential construction. The funds are allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and require the city to conduct or facilitate the study by July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 157 is a procedural resolution inviting Governor Josh Stein to address a joint session of the North Carolina General Assembly on March 12, 2025. It directs a committee of five House members and five Senate members to extend the invitation and specifies that the governor's cabinet, Council of State members, and state judges may attend. This resolution does not create new policy or affect any laws; it solely schedules a ceremonial address. The invitation is effective upon ratification, as noted in the resolution's text.

Maddy summaryHB 130 establishes a $475 million program to provide financial assistance to North Carolina farmers who suffered crop losses from natural disasters in 2024. It directly affects farmers in counties designated by the USDA as disaster areas, requiring verified losses of eligible agricultural commodities (like crops, livestock, or specialty plants) planted but not harvested by January 1, 2024. The program uses county and state yield/price averages to calculate payments, mandates submission of USDA Form 578 or equivalent documentation within 30 days, and allocates funds from state reserves (Stabilization, IT, and Economic Development) to cover verified losses. Farmers must provide documentation for verification, and the Department of Agriculture may audit claims to ensure proper use of funds, with refunds required for inaccurate information.

Maddy summaryHB 194 allows Asheville City Schools to adopt an earlier start date (as early as August 19) for the 2025-2026 school year, instead of the standard August 26 requirement, if the school district demonstrates "good cause" through documented severe weather or emergency closures over the past decade. The bill requires Asheville to maintain the minimum required instructional days while adjusting the calendar, but does not change the standard end date (June 11). It applies exclusively to Asheville City Schools and is effective for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a targeted policy change for Asheville's specific operational needs, not a statewide rule.

Maddy summaryHB 174, the North Carolina Marriage Equality Act, codifies the right to marry for all individuals regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation, directly affecting all residents and couples seeking marriage in the state. The bill adds new sections to state law defining marriage as the union of two consenting individuals and requiring equal treatment under all state and local laws, policies, and regulations for married couples. It also prohibits discrimination in marriage-related services, benefits, or licenses based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation, while repealing prior conflicting statutes. The act becomes effective upon enactment, ensuring consistent legal recognition of marriages without discrimination.

Maddy summaryHB 175 proposes amending North Carolina's constitution to remove the current provision stating "marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union." If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, this change would allow the state to recognize all marriages equally, directly affecting all North Carolinians seeking marriage licenses or legal recognition. The bill requires voter approval via a yes/no ballot question in November 2026, with the amendment taking effect January 1, 2027, if passed. This is a constitutional referendum, not an immediate law, and would replace the existing constitutional language without altering current marriage laws.

Maddy summaryHB 168, the North Carolina CROWN Act, prohibits employment discrimination based on hair texture or protective hairstyles like braids, locks, or twists. It explicitly adds these characteristics to the definition of "race" under North Carolina's anti-discrimination law, covering all employers and job applicants. The bill also strengthens protections by banning retaliation against employees who report such discrimination. It applies to all public and private employers statewide upon becoming law.