Rep. Ted Davis

Maddy summaryThis amendment to House Bill 10 allocates $278,994 annually from the state's General Fund to hire two full-time jail inspectors for the 2023-2025 fiscal period. The funds are directed to the Department of Health and Human Services to support the Division of Health Services Regulation in its construction section. These positions become effective on July 1, 2023, and the amendment also updates the bill's title to reflect the addition of these inspector roles.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates North Carolina's sex crime laws by creating new offenses for sexual extortion and refining definitions related to the sexual exploitation of minors. It specifically addresses the threat of sharing private images to force someone into acts, defining "private images" to include those created or modified by artificial intelligence, and establishes felony penalties for adults while imposing stricter penalties on repeat offenders. Additionally, the legislation clarifies what constitutes an "identifiable minor" in digital media and expands the scope of protected material to include computer-generated depictions, ensuring that laws cover images produced through modern technology.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the SHALOM Act, adds a new section to North Carolina law that officially adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism. The law requires state agencies and organizations to use this definition as a guide for training, education, and identifying hate crimes or discrimination against Jewish people. It also establishes a framework for tracking and reporting incidents of antisemitism within the state. The legislation includes a specific provision stating that adopting this definition does not violate free speech rights protected by the U.S. and state constitutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies North Carolina law to change the deadline for prosecutors to request a review of decisions not to file juvenile delinquency petitions. Currently, prosecutors must act within five calendar days, but the amendment extends this timeframe to ten working days unless the district attorney waives the extension. The change directly affects the procedural timeline for prosecutors, complainants, and victims involved in juvenile cases by allowing more time to evaluate whether a petition should be filed. This adjustment aims to provide additional time for prosecutors to assess cases before the review process concludes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state constitution to eliminate the literacy test requirement for voting. By removing this specific provision, the legislation ensures that all eligible citizens can vote regardless of their reading or writing abilities. The change directly affects voters who previously might have been disenfranchised by this barrier. It does not alter other voting qualifications or the overall structure of the election process.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds the drug tianeptine to North Carolina's list of Schedule II controlled substances, meaning it will be regulated similarly to other opioids. By making this change, the law aims to increase oversight of the drug, which is already associated with potential for abuse and severe dependence. The new rules will apply to anyone who commits offenses involving tianeptine on or after September 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal process allowing property owners to request the immediate removal of unauthorized individuals from residential homes by contacting their local sheriff. To use this process, the owner must file a sworn complaint stating that the person is not a tenant or resident, has been asked to leave, and that no valid lease exists, after which the sheriff must act within 24 hours. The legislation also increases penalties for willful damage to residential property and prohibits fraudulent rental advertisements while requiring all leases to be in writing. Property owners who incorrectly use this removal process could face civil lawsuits, including triple damages based on the rent and legal fees.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill establishes a legal mechanism to hold manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) financially responsible for cleaning up contaminated drinking water. It defines "responsible parties" as companies that produce PFAS chemicals and orders them to pay for the actual costs public water systems incur to remove or fix contamination that exceeds safety limits. If a manufacturer refuses to pay, the state can take legal action in court to enforce the order, and the bill allows water systems to lower future customer rates if they recover these costs. The legislation also creates a special fund with initial funding to support implementation and requires the state to report annually on how these funds and enforcement orders are used.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates North Carolina's occupational licensing laws to prevent automatic denial of licenses based solely on a conviction for a crime of moral turpitude. Instead of a blanket ban, licensing boards must now evaluate each criminal history case individually by considering factors such as the crime's seriousness, the applicant's age at the time, rehabilitation efforts, and how the offense relates to the specific job duties. The legislation also requires boards to provide written explanations for any denials, offer applicants a chance to respond to concerns within 30 days, and allow individuals to request a preliminary assessment of how their record might affect licensure before applying. Additionally, the law mandates that boards clearly publish their criminal background check policies and appeal processes on their websites to ensure transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 917 makes technical corrections to North Carolina laws regarding inheritance and estate administration, specifically updating how surviving spouses can claim a life interest in real estate. The bill repeals an outdated statute and revises the text of G.S. 29-30 to clarify the rules for a surviving spouse electing to take a life estate in one-third of the deceased spouse's real property or in the family home. These changes include fixing typos, correcting legal references, and refining the procedures for filing petitions and appointing juries to determine property boundaries. The legislation directly affects surviving spouses, estate administrators, and courts handling inheritance cases in North Carolina.