Rep. Brian Turner

Maddy summaryHB 997 requires members of the North Carolina General Assembly to certify whether they have reviewed the U.S. Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution. This certification must be submitted to the Principal Clerk of their respective house before they take their oath of office. The review of the Constitutions must have occurred within the two years prior to taking the oath. This act is scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 597 designates the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) as the official state raptor of North Carolina. This bill amends Chapter 145 of the General Statutes to formally adopt the osprey as a state symbol.

Maddy summaryHB 854 removes the current exemption for educational interpreters and transliterators from state licensure requirements. This means individuals who provide accessible communication services to students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education will now be required to obtain a license. The bill also allows continuing education hours earned for license renewal to count towards their existing job-related training requirements. These changes are set to become effective on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled Reagan's Law, aims to improve access to prosthetic and orthotic devices for North Carolinians with limb loss or limb difference by requiring most health benefit plans to cover these devices and related care. Key provisions mandate that plans cover all materials, instruction, and repairs for prosthetics and orthotics, allow for multiple devices based on medical needs, and prohibit denying claims for these devices that would otherwise be covered for non-disabled individuals seeking similar medical treatment. The legislation also requires insurers to provide coverage for device replacements when medically necessary due to changes in the insured's condition or device damage, without limiting coverage based on the device's age or useful lifetime. Additionally, the bill repeals state requirements for health plans to cover emergency care that duplicates federal law, aligning state regulations with federal standards.

Maddy summaryHB 552 establishes the Agricultural Manufacturing Investment Grant Account within North Carolina's One North Carolina Fund, allocating up to $5 million for new economic development incentives. This account provides competitive grants to eligible agricultural manufacturers in the state. The Department of Commerce will administer these grants, prioritizing projects in less developed areas, those using advanced agricultural technologies, or those with significant research and development. To qualify, recipients must commit to investing at least $5 million of private funds, employ a minimum of 25 full-time employees, and meet specific wage requirements. Grants are capped at $100,000 annually per recipient for up to five years.

Maddy summaryJesse's Law (HB 896) mandates specific training for professional personnel involved in child custody proceedings in North Carolina. It requires judges, magistrates, judicial officers, and court personnel, including guardian ad litems and mediators, to complete trauma-informed and culturally appropriate training. This training focuses on the dynamics, signs, and impact of domestic violence and child abuse, including child sexual abuse. Professionals must complete an initial 20 hours of training and 15 hours every five years, based on evidence-based research. The bill aims to improve the ability of these individuals to recognize and respond to abuse and trauma when making child custody decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 976 enacts the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, establishing specific procedures for dividing or selling real property commonly owned by relatives, referred to as "heirs property." This bill affects cotenants involved in partition proceedings for such property. It requires courts to first determine if the property qualifies as heirs property and then mandates a fair market value appraisal. A key provision allows cotenants who wish to retain the property to buy out the interests of those who requested a sale, based on the determined value.

Maddy summaryHB 24, titled "Restore Down-Zoning Authority," aims to reinstate the power of local governments to initiate "down-zoning." This means local governments would regain the ability to change zoning classifications for properties to allow for less intensive development or use. The bill achieves this by repealing Section 3K.1 of S.L. 2024-57, which had previously restricted this authority. If enacted, it would apply retroactively to December 11, 2024, ensuring that any local ordinances impacted by the repealed section are restored to their status prior to that date.

Maddy summaryHB 97 adds stomach cancer (gastric cancer) to the list of occupationally related cancers that qualify firefighters for "killed in the line of duty" benefits under North Carolina's Public Safety Employees' Death Benefits Act. This means firefighters who die from stomach cancer directly linked to their firefighting duties will automatically be eligible for death benefits, easing the process for families seeking compensation. The bill appropriates $500,000 annually from 2025-2027 to cover these benefits. It takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to qualifying deaths occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 140 authorizes the addition of the Gullah Geechee Greenway/Blueway Heritage Trail to North Carolina's State Trails System. This bill adds a 21-mile multiuse trail in Brunswick County, designed for pedestrian and bicycle use, which connects various historical sites significant to Gullah Geechee culture. It directs the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to support and promote the trail's establishment and allows the State to acquire necessary land through donations or existing funds, waiving the usual appropriation requirement for new additions.