Rep. Ya Liu

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents homeowners' associations and unit owners' associations in North Carolina from restricting residents from installing, maintaining, or using solar panels, edible gardens, and certain accessory dwelling units. The law specifically prohibits these groups from enforcing rules against solar energy systems, gardens located within a property owner's boundaries, and secondary housing units that comply with building codes and zoning laws. Additionally, the legislation allocates $100,000 to the Department of Justice to educate the public about these new restrictions. The changes take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a special "Red Wolf" license plate for vehicle owners who wish to support the conservation of this native species. The plates will feature an image of a red wolf and carry an additional $30 fee, with specific portions of those funds directed to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for conservation, research, and habitat restoration efforts. To help launch the program, the state has appropriated $15,000 for plate design and production, while North Carolina State University is tasked with promoting the plate to its campus community and will report on its marketing efforts by September 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1178, known as the NC Teacher Pay Competitiveness Act, establishes a permanent salary increase plan for public school teachers in North Carolina to help the state compete with neighboring regions. The bill creates a new salary schedule that begins in the 2026-2027 school year and mandates annual raises of 3.67% until 2033, after which increases will be tied to federal employment cost data. Additionally, the legislation provides specific monthly bonuses for teachers with advanced certifications or degrees and adjusts funding for the Opportunity Scholarship program.

Maddy summaryHB 1141 allocates over one billion dollars in state funding to adjust Medicaid payments for North Carolina starting in 2025, ensuring the program can cover rising costs and new services. The bill also permits Medicaid managed care plans to create exclusive networks of providers specifically for research-based behavioral health treatments, while requiring all other essential services to remain available to all providers in the area. Additionally, the legislation removes specific rules that could cause people enrolled in Medicaid expansion to lose their coverage, thereby stabilizing access to care for this population.

Maddy summaryHB 1146 establishes the 2026 Governor's Budget for North Carolina by allocating specific funding amounts to state departments, institutions, and agencies for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The bill directly affects public education, health and human services, agriculture, justice, and general government entities by setting their operational budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. Key provisions include detailed dollar amounts for various programs, such as funding for public instruction, university operations, and health services, while also allowing for savings to revert to the state fund if not fully utilized. This legislation provides the financial framework necessary for state agencies to carry out their mandated duties and services during the specified period.

Maddy summaryHB 1138, known as the Aging With Dignity Act, aims to improve long-term care for older North Carolinians by prioritizing home-based services over institutional care for Medicaid beneficiaries aged 55 and older. The bill mandates that institutional placement be the exception rather than the rule, requiring documented medical justification and regular reassessments to ensure individuals remain in the most integrated setting possible. It also establishes a requirement for periodic medication reviews to prevent adverse drug interactions and reduce hospitalizations, while integrating behavioral health services into geriatric care plans. Additionally, the legislation appropriates funds for strategic investments in the state's aging infrastructure and reestablishes a study commission to address the needs of the growing senior population.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina legislation aims to reduce healthcare expenses and boost competition by adding a low-cost plan option to the state's insurance marketplace. It establishes a purchasing consortium for public entities to negotiate better rates and allocates funds for chronic disease prevention initiatives. The bill also removes regulatory barriers for rehabilitation facilities and limits hospital consolidation to maintain market diversity. These provisions impact residents seeking coverage, public employers, healthcare providers, and hospital systems within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1167 establishes the 2026 Governor's Budget for North Carolina by providing specific funding amounts to state departments, institutions, and agencies for their current operations. The bill directly affects a wide range of public services, including education, health and human services, agriculture, justice, and general government functions. Key provisions include allocating funds for public schools, universities, healthcare programs, and law enforcement, with detailed dollar amounts specified for each fiscal year of the 2025-2027 biennium. Any unused funds from these appropriations will revert to the appropriate state funds at the end of the fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 1066, the Child Care Stabilization and Affordability Act, aims to address North Carolina's child care shortages by redirecting funds from the Opportunity Scholarship Program to support child care services. The bill reduces scholarship funding for private school vouchers, with the savings used to expand child care subsidies, stabilize existing programs, and improve early childhood educator pay and benefits. It also streamlines administrative rules for child care providers and clarifies regulations for religious programs. These changes directly affect families seeking child care subsidies, private school scholarship recipients, and child care providers across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new loan program in North Carolina to help nonprofit organizations prepare land for affordable housing by offering below-market interest rate loans. The funds, totaling $50 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, can only be used for site-related expenses like land acquisition, utility installation, and environmental testing, but not for building the actual homes. To qualify, borrowers must be experienced nonprofits that provide zero-interest mortgages to buyers and ensure at least 40% of units in mixed-income projects are reserved for low- and moderate-income families. The program is designed to support the development of housing for households earning up to 80% of the local area median income.