Rep. Deb Butler

Maddy summaryHB 1042 establishes a reimbursement program in North Carolina to help cover veterinary expenses for retired law enforcement and correctional dogs. To qualify, the dogs must have served in official capacities such as detection, apprehension, or search and rescue and hold certification from a national organization. Owners can apply for up to $1,500 annually for essential care like check-ups, vaccinations, emergency surgeries, and euthanasia, but not for elective procedures. The Department of Public Safety will manage a dedicated fund, initially seeded with $300,000, to process these claims and maintain records. The law applies to dogs retiring on or after July 1, 2024, and allows owners to participate voluntarily without affecting any other existing benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory to conduct a study on how proposed changes to the county tier designation system would affect the state's 100 counties. The study will examine potential adjustments to the criteria for ranking counties, the method used to assign tiers, and the timeline for these rankings. It will also assess how these changes impact state programs, business operations, and the accuracy of identifying distressed areas using current data. Funded with $100,000, the Collaboratory must submit a preliminary report by December 31, 2024, and a final report by December 1, 2025, to legislative oversight committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the North Carolina Constitution to guarantee the public's right to access government records and attend public meetings. It declares that public records belong to the people and mandates that records and meetings for all state and local government branches be open for inspection and duplication. The amendment allows restrictions on this access only if the government can prove a compelling public interest exists and that the restriction is narrowly tailored to protect that interest. If voters approve this change in the November 2024 election, it will become part of the state constitution immediately upon certification.

Maddy summaryHB 935 reorganizes the Advisory Council on Rare Diseases in North Carolina by moving it from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill establishes a 19-member council composed of physicians, researchers, patient advocates, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to advise state leaders on rare disease research, diagnosis, treatment, and education. Key provisions include setting specific term lengths for members, providing administrative support and funding for the council's operations, and requiring annual reports on council activities and recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program called "Increasing Engagement in STEM" to provide funding to North Carolina public schools for experiential science, technology, engineering, and math education. The program specifically targets sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students and allows schools to use the money for teacher stipends, hiring third-party vendors, and hosting competitions. A total of $1 million is allocated to fund up to 20 school districts, with selection criteria designed to ensure geographic and population diversity across different school sizes. Schools must submit detailed plans outlining how they will use the funds and how they intend to sustain the programs after the grant period ends. The bill also requires the state superintendent to submit initial and final reports to a legislative committee detailing application results, student participation data, and performance outcomes.