Rep. Ted Davis

Maddy summaryHB 430 would raise North Carolina's legal sales age for all tobacco and nicotine products (including e-cigarettes and vaping devices) to 21. It requires retailers to obtain a tobacco sales permit and verify customers' ages using acceptable ID. The bill directly affects tobacco retailers (who must get permits) and youth under 21 (who would be barred from purchasing these products). Key provisions include defining "vapor products" and establishing penalties for violations, such as fines up to $1,000 for repeat offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 35 designates November of each year as Military Appreciation Month in North Carolina. The bill creates a symbolic recognition within state law, honoring military service members and veterans during this month. It does not establish new programs, funding, or requirements - it simply formally names November for this purpose. The bill affects the state government's official calendar and public recognition efforts, with no direct impact on individuals or organizations.

Maddy summaryHB 408 appropriates $869,000 from the General Fund to complete remaining construction at Fort Fisher State Historic Site, which is North Carolina's most-visited historic site. The funding covers specific items not included in prior appropriations, such as a visitor center tower sign, interior partitions, historic gun carriages, and an ammunition magazine inside reconstructed earthworks. This bill directly supports the site's operations and visitor experience by finishing Phase 1 (visitor center/parking) and Phase 2 (reconstructed earthworks) capital improvements. The funds are designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and become effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 418 mandates that all North Carolina public schools provide required arts education for K-5 students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. It requires at least one 30-minute session per week in music, dance, or theatre arts (taught by a licensed instructor) and one session per week in visual arts (also taught by a licensed instructor), with classes kept at appropriate sizes. The bill directly affects every K-5 public school student and their educators across North Carolina, ensuring consistent arts instruction aligned with state curriculum standards. It does not alter funding or create new programs but sets specific instructional requirements for elementary schools.

Maddy summaryHB 375 bans the use of deceptive AI-generated videos or audio (deepfakes) in political campaigns within 90 days of an election, unless they include clear disclosures. It requires creators to audibly state "Contains content generated by AI" at the start/end of audio content (and every 2 minutes if longer) and display visible disclosures throughout visual content. The bill directly affects political campaigns and sponsors creating synthetic media during election periods, aiming to prevent voter deception. It also prohibits fabricated intimate images of minors and defines terms like "digital impersonation" to clarify prohibited content. The law focuses on election integrity, not general social media use.

Maddy summaryHB 44 clarifies when business contracts in North Carolina can include enforceable provisions for recovering attorneys' fees. It requires these provisions to be signed by hand or with specific electronic signatures (like typing or touchscreen signatures) to be valid, while explicitly excluding consumer contracts, employment agreements, and government contracts. The bill also updates notary application rules to allow electronic submission of signatures while maintaining handwritten requirements for initial applications. It does not change existing rules for consumer contracts, debt instruments, or insurance policies. The law affects businesses drafting contracts and courts enforcing attorneys' fees clauses.

Maddy summaryHB 45 prevents occupational licensing boards in North Carolina from automatically denying licenses based solely on a conviction classified as a "crime of moral turpitude." It requires boards to evaluate each applicant's criminal history using specific factors, including the crime's severity, time elapsed, rehabilitation efforts, and relevance to the job. Applicants with criminal records must be given 30 days to address concerns or submit rehabilitation evidence before a final denial, and boards must provide written explanations for denials. The bill directly affects individuals seeking professional licenses (e.g., for nursing, contracting, or cosmetology) who have criminal convictions, ensuring decisions are based on individualized assessments rather than automatic exclusions.

Maddy summaryHB 86, titled "Citizens' Expungement Clarification of 2025," prohibits non-citizens and non-legal residents of the U.S. from clearing criminal convictions or charges from their records through expungement in North Carolina. The bill requires courts to verify a petitioner’s U.S. residency or citizenship status at least 30 days before granting expungement, including potential queries to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It exempts individuals who lawfully entered the U.S. and have filed or are awaiting an immigrant petition with U.S. immigration authorities. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, applying to all expungement petitions filed after that date.

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.