Rep. Wyatt Gable

Maddy summaryHB 362 prohibits the intentional release of substances or technologies within North Carolina aimed at altering weather, temperature, or sunlight - including stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), cloud seeding, and electromagnetic emissions. It defines "atmospheric modification" broadly to cover activities affecting climate, agriculture, health, or security, while explicitly excluding licensed pesticide applications by aircraft. The law makes it illegal to intentionally inject or disperse materials for such purposes and directs the Environmental Management Commission to create implementing rules. This bill directly affects entities or individuals conducting weather-altering experiments or technologies within the state. The measure is currently in committee referral after passing its first reading in the North Carolina House.

Maddy summaryHB 222 appropriates $217 million from the State Emergency Response Fund to North Carolina's Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) for homeowner recovery projects related to Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. The bill requires NCORR to submit detailed monthly reports on fund usage, including expenditures and project progress, and mandates weekly financial reports to the State Auditor for oversight. It also establishes a public online dashboard tracking funds versus actual spending and includes a clawback provision to return unused funds to the Savings Reserve after projects conclude. The law revises NCORR's responsibilities, ending its role in future storm recovery programs.

Maddy summaryHB 31 would amend North Carolina's State Human Resources Act to make every statewide general election day a paid holiday for state employees. This change would add election days to the current list of paid holidays (which includes Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday and Veterans Day), while maintaining the limit of 13 paid holidays per year. The bill directly affects state workers, ensuring they receive paid time off on election days without reducing the total number of paid holidays. It does not change election dates or voting procedures, only the employment benefits for state employees on those days. The legislation is currently pending in committee review.

Maddy summaryHB 72 prohibits North Carolina's Attorney General from participating in any court case (as a party, amicus, or otherwise) that argues a presidential executive order should be invalidated. The law directly affects the Attorney General's office, restricting their ability to challenge federal executive actions in state or federal courts. Key provisions state the Attorney General cannot advance arguments leading to the invalidation of any presidential executive order, applying to all pending or future litigation. This is a procedural limitation on state legal actions, not a change to federal executive power. The bill becomes effective upon enactment for cases filed after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 112 raises the maximum allowable speed limit on North Carolina's interstate highways and controlled-access roads from 70 mph to 75 mph, as determined by the Department of Transportation after engineering studies. This directly affects drivers traveling on these roads, as the new 75 mph limit replaces the previous 70 mph cap where the DOT deems it safe. The bill also updates related penalties: speeding over 85 mph on roads with a 75 mph limit becomes a Class 3 misdemeanor, and license suspension rules for excessive speeding (e.g., over 85 mph on 75 mph zones) are adjusted accordingly. The changes apply only to offenses occurring on or after December 1, 2025, and do not affect cases before that date.

Maddy summaryHB 89, the "University Vaccination Freedom Act," repeals North Carolina's requirement for college and university students to provide vaccination records. It removes the mandate for students to submit immunization certificates to institutions, effective for the 2026-2027 academic year. The bill retains existing religious exemption provisions (G.S. 130A-157), allowing students to opt out by submitting a written statement of religious beliefs. This change directly affects all students attending public or private colleges and universities in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 61 increases penalties for assaulting certain emergency personnel with a firearm in North Carolina. It reclassifies assaults against law enforcement officers, probation/parole officers, National Guard members, detention facility staff, emergency medical technicians, medical responders, firefighters, and law enforcement telecommunicators as a Class B1 felony (instead of Class D) when committed during their duties. The bill specifically targets firearm assaults, making them punishable by more severe prison sentences. This law takes effect December 1, 2025, for offenses occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 66 would shorten North Carolina's early voting period by changing the start date from the third Thursday before an election to the second Monday before the election. It specifies that voters may only cast early ballots between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the last Saturday before an election. This bill directly affects voters in North Carolina elections by reducing the window for early in-person voting. The change applies to all elections held on or after the law's effective date. The bill modifies existing voting procedures without altering election administration rules beyond the early voting timeframe.

Maddy summaryHB 39 excludes motor vehicles owned by veterans with a 100% disability rating certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from North Carolina property tax. It amends state tax law to add these vehicles as a designated exempt class under G.S. 105-275. The exclusion applies to vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects eligible disabled veterans who own motor vehicles, reducing their property tax burden. The bill does not change eligibility criteria or tax rates for other vehicle classes.

Maddy summaryHB 36 requires North Carolina's Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to improve maintenance at all four state veterans cemeteries, directly affecting veterans' families and cemetery operations. The bill mandates addressing specific issues like headstone installation delays, equipment damage to graves, drainage problems, debris, and poor grounds appearance, while allowing military groups to volunteer for upkeep. It also directs the department to review and adjust funeral service policies, including chapel-only options, service duration, attendee limits, and grave visitation rules during services. The department must submit a report on these changes to legislative committees by October 1, 2025.