Rep. Ted Davis

Maddy summaryHB 481 (General Statutes Commission Technical Corrections 2025 Part 2) makes minor, non-substantive updates to North Carolina's legal terminology. It standardizes terms like changing "e-mail" to "email," "Internet" to lowercase, and "rule making" to "rulemaking" across multiple statutes. The bill affects all state laws containing these specific terms but does not create new policies, change legal requirements, or impact any specific group of people. It is purely a technical correction to improve consistency in the General Statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 171 prohibits North Carolina state agencies from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, including in hiring, employment practices, or training. It defines DEI broadly as any initiative influencing hiring or benefits based on protected characteristics (like race or gender) beyond merit-based processes. The bill mandates state auditor compliance audits, imposes civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation, and allows employees to file lawsuits after submitting a grievance to their agency. It explicitly excludes compliance with existing anti-discrimination laws (such as Title IX and the ADA) and protects First Amendment rights.

Maddy summaryHB 1113 extends a ban on new shellfish and aquaculture leases in the New Hanover County area until July 1, 2026. This restriction applies to any lease applications received by the state but not approved before July 1, 2019, covering a specific coastal zone defined by geographic coordinates and landmarks. The bill also allocates $10,000 to fund public education and notifications about this extension. Finally, the law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and will govern how the Department of Environmental Quality reviews future lease requests.

Maddy summaryHB 1115 updates North Carolina laws regarding advance health care planning documents, such as health care powers of attorney and living wills, to align with recent recommendations from the General Statutes Commission. The bill primarily affects individuals creating these documents by simplifying the requirements for signing them and allowing multiple types of advance directives to be combined into a single document. Key provisions include clarifying how different documents interact, defining terms like 'life-prolonging measures' and 'mental health treatment,' and ensuring that the laws remain consistent with other state statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes technical corrections to North Carolina's state laws by updating references to government agencies and repealing outdated sections related to past executive branch reorganizations from 1971 and 1973. It officially removes obsolete language describing former agency transfers and recodes various statutes to reflect current departmental structures, such as clarifying the role of the Lieutenant Governor and defining terms like "agency" and "principal State department." Additionally, the legislation establishes new articles within the state code to formally recognize the Council on the Holocaust, the Forestry Council, and specific rules regarding how state agencies can be transferred or administered. Ultimately, the bill aims to clean up the legal code by eliminating historical references that no longer apply to the modern organization of the state government.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill requires all private employers with 25 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify system to check the work authorization of every new hire. It mandates that state and local government agencies also comply with these verification rules and allows employers to avoid penalties if they can prove they acted in good faith and did not knowingly accept fraudulent documents. The legislation establishes a 30-day grace period for employers to fix minor compliance errors and increases fines for repeat offenders while protecting workers who report suspected violations from retaliation. Additionally, it grants the state labor commissioner the authority to conduct random or risk-based audits of employers and provides funding to support enforcement efforts.

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 proposes a constitutional amendment that would require the North Carolina legislature to establish a statewide limit on how much local property tax levies can increase each year. The measure also mandates that any local government wanting to raise property taxes beyond this limit must first obtain approval from a majority of voters in that specific area. Because this change alters the state constitution, it will not take effect immediately but will instead be placed on the November 3, 2026, ballot for voters to decide whether to adopt. If approved by the public, the amendment would legally bind the General Assembly to create the specific tax increase caps mentioned in the text.

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 summaryHB 1136 pauses new surface water transfers from the upper Cape Fear River Basin until June 1, 2030, while a university study evaluates the region's water supply and recommends future policy changes. The bill directs the North Carolina Collaboratory to assess water availability, environmental impacts, and economic fairness, with findings due by July 2029. Additionally, it strengthens the Environmental Management Commission's authority to order reductions to existing water withdrawals and pollution discharges if they harm public health or water resources.