Rep. Charlie Miller

Maddy summaryHB 315 creates new criminal offenses for wrongfully entering restricted business areas (like secure storage rooms) and for stealing or fraudulently obtaining gift cards. It directly affects businesses (by protecting secure areas), gift card holders (by criminalizing theft of their cards), and individuals who commit these acts. Key provisions include classifying unauthorized building entry as a misdemeanor or felony based on prior offenses, defining gift card theft as a Class 1 misdemeanor for cards under $1,000 (or felony for higher value), and expanding "organized retail theft" to include conspiracy around gift cards with penalties tied to total value stolen. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands tuition waivers at North Carolina community colleges to children of public safety workers who are injured or disabled in the line of duty. It allows children aged 17 to 24 of law enforcement officers, experienced correctional officers, and firefighters to attend classes for free if their parent is permanently and totally disabled due to a traumatic work-related injury. The waiver covers the cost of tuition for the time needed to complete the student's chosen educational program, provided they meet standard admission requirements. The law takes effect with the 2026-2027 academic year.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to eliminate the United States Department of Education by returning control of education to the states. The bill argues that federal involvement has led to excessive regulations and mandates without improving student reading scores, asserting that states are better equipped to handle education based on local needs. It also states that removing the department would not stop federal funding programs from reaching states but would instead allow taxpayer dollars to be used more efficiently. As a non-binding resolution, it does not directly change laws or allocate funds but serves as a formal statement of support for federal efforts to abolish the department.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows North Carolina public schools to use an extra three days or 15 hours of remote instruction when they face ongoing emergencies after already using their standard emergency allowance. Schools that have exhausted their initial five-day limit for weather, power outages, or other crises can now count this additional time toward their required school calendar. To ensure accountability, school districts must report details about these extra days and the specific emergencies that caused them to the state by July 1 each year. The legislation also allocates $5,000 in state funds to help cover administrative costs and provide technical support for enforcing these new rules starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 144 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change how North Carolina's State Board of Education is structured. It requires voters to elect all board members (except the Lieutenant Governor and Treasurer, who are Council of State members) from districts established by the General Assembly, with terms of four years. The Superintendent of Public Instruction would automatically serve as the board's chair (ex officio member) without needing separate election. This amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 election and would take effect for terms beginning January 1, 2029. It does not change the current composition of the board but alters how members are selected and who serves as chair.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Mike Clampitt 1st Responder Tax Fairness Act, aims to expand tax exemptions for volunteer fire departments and rescue squads in North Carolina. Specifically, it allows these independent groups, which have two or fewer paid employees and are already exempt from state income tax, to avoid paying a highway use tax on specific emergency vehicles like fire trucks, forest firefighting units, and other emergency service vehicles. The change applies to vehicles when a certificate of title is issued on or after July 1, 2026, ensuring these organizations can acquire necessary equipment without incurring this particular tax. By broadening the existing exemption, the legislation directly benefits volunteer responders who operate outside of local government units.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $6 million in state funds to expand two food assistance programs in North Carolina for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The first $4 million supports FarmSHARE, which provides grants to buy locally grown food and distribute it for free to food-insecure individuals and households. The second $2 million funds the Double Up Food Bucks Program, allowing people receiving nutrition assistance to use their benefits to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets and other local retailers. Both programs require the state department to submit annual reports detailing participation numbers, distribution metrics, and financial data to legislative oversight committees. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program to train new individuals with no prior experience as lead teachers in North Carolina's licensed child care centers. Funded by state money and requiring a local match, the program offers free, intensive training courses through community colleges in selected counties, with graduates receiving a state credential and potential stipends for completing the course and working for a year. The initiative aims to expand the child care workforce by establishing academies across the state, starting in Johnston and Wayne counties, and includes requirements for local partnerships to select additional sites. Additionally, the bill directs the North Carolina Partnership for Children to study the feasibility of liability insurance for providers and update bidding rules for child care grants.

Maddy summaryHB 1186 directs the North Carolina Collaboratory to create a pilot program that provides participating law enforcement agencies with new, more accurate drug-detecting technology to replace traditional color-based field tests. The bill requires these new devices to be portable, avoid relying on visual color changes for identification, and generate digital records for auditing and tracking emerging substances. Additionally, the program must conduct a comprehensive study to measure the technology's impact on case outcomes, officer safety, and the accuracy of drug testing across different communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Workforce Act of 2026, provides funding and policy changes to expand workforce development programs in North Carolina. It allocates $3.1 million to the Community Colleges System Office to support the ApprenticeshipNC program, which helps connect employers with learners through work-based training. The legislation also directs the Department of Commerce to maintain a list of industry-valued credentials and collect data on wages and job outcomes to better align education with labor market needs. Additionally, it increases financial aid for short-term workforce development grants to help students pursue credentials that are not eligible for federal funding.