Rep. Mark Pless

Maddy summaryHB 201 restricts the use of long trailers on specific segments of U.S. Route 25/70 in Madison County, North Carolina. It prohibits motor vehicle combinations exceeding 48 feet total length or trailers over 30 feet in length on two defined route sections: from NC Highway 213 north to NC Highway 208, and from NC Highway 208 west to the Tennessee border. This directly affects commercial truck drivers and logistics companies operating heavy vehicles in that corridor. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, with penalties matching existing traffic violation fines under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 312 appropriates $80 million from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to relocate Madison County's courthouse, which was damaged by Hurricane Helene, out of the floodplain. The funds will be directed to Madison County through the Office of State Budget and Management to support the physical relocation project. This bill directly affects Madison County by providing financial resources for rebuilding the courthouse in a safer location. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and is a funding measure rather than a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 313 appropriates $88,395,000 from North Carolina's General Fund to Madison County for hurricane recovery. The bill directly funds specific repairs and rebuilds damaged infrastructure across Marshall and Hot Springs, including the wastewater treatment plant, town halls, housing authority apartments, fire department, community center, libraries, parks, and emergency communication systems, all resulting from Hurricane Helene. Key provisions allocate $25 million for the Marshall Wastewater Plant, $12 million for a new Hot Springs Wastewater Facility, $3 million for temporary department relocations, and $25 million for river and waterway repairs. The funds are designated for nonrecurring use in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, effective July 1, 2025. This is a funding bill with no new policy changes, solely providing targeted financial support for post-hurricane infrastructure restoration.

Maddy summaryHB 232 appropriates $16.39 million from North Carolina's disaster relief fund to repair hurricane-damaged short-line railroads. The bill directly provides $14 million to Blue Ridge Southern Railroad for line restoration and $2.39 million to Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for track repairs, facility fixes, and lost revenue following Hurricane Helene. These funds are allocated through the Department of Transportation's Rail Division using the Freight Rail & Rail Safety Improvement Fund. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and focuses solely on direct financial assistance for specific rail infrastructure recovery.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head as a unique coastal geological area of environmental concern. It establishes specific rules for development within the site, requiring permits for sand removal projects that exceed ten cubic yards per year. Any sand removed under these permits must be returned to designated areas within the Jockey's Ridge State Park. Additionally, the legislation prohibits development activities that would significantly block the natural movement of sand, with limited exceptions for essential infrastructure and maintenance.