Rep. Ya Liu

Maddy summaryHB 552 establishes the Agricultural Manufacturing Investment Grant Account within North Carolina's One North Carolina Fund, allocating up to $5 million for new economic development incentives. This account provides competitive grants to eligible agricultural manufacturers in the state. The Department of Commerce will administer these grants, prioritizing projects in less developed areas, those using advanced agricultural technologies, or those with significant research and development. To qualify, recipients must commit to investing at least $5 million of private funds, employ a minimum of 25 full-time employees, and meet specific wage requirements. Grants are capped at $100,000 annually per recipient for up to five years.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 535, known as the "Title Fraud Prevention Act," aims to combat property title fraud by increasing penalties for filing fraudulent deeds and enhancing recording procedures. The bill requires Registers of Deeds to verify the identity of individuals, who are not designated "trusted submitters" (such as attorneys or title companies), presenting certain property instruments for recording by requiring a government-issued photographic identification card. It also authorizes Registers of Deeds to refuse to register instruments deemed "suspicious" or if identity verification requirements are not met. Additionally, the bill escalates the criminal penalties for filing fraudulent deeds, making it a felony offense.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 283 establishes the Small Business Investment Grant (SBIG) Program within the One North Carolina Fund, designed to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses looking to establish or expand facilities in the state. The bill allocates up to $10 million from the Fund to this new account. Through the SBIG Program, competitive grants are offered to businesses meeting specific criteria, such as having 250 or fewer employees or less than $5 million in annual revenue, investing $10-$30 million, and creating new jobs with competitive wages. Grants are capped at $500,000 annually per recipient, up to $2.5 million total, over a maximum of five years. Additionally, the bill renames the "One North Carolina Small Business Account" to the "Small Business Research and Technology Account," which continues to support federal SBIR/STTR grant incentive and matching programs.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 795 expands eligibility for guardianship assistance programs for youth in foster care. It allows the Division of Social Services to provide financial support to children who are at least 10 years old when they exit foster care into relative or legal guardianship, provided they meet other criteria like a strong attachment to their guardian. The bill also permits younger siblings of eligible children to receive assistance. Additionally, it allows individuals to continue receiving support until age 21 if they were 16 or older when the agreement began and are pursuing education or employment.

Maddy summaryHB 444, the Homeowners Association Reform Bill, proposes changes to laws governing both homeowners and unit owner associations, directly affecting these organizations and their members. It stipulates that association declaration amendments only apply to owners whose properties are conveyed after the amendment takes effect. The bill also regulates managing agent contracts, limits an association's ability to enforce parking restrictions on public streets, and caps fees for lender-requested documents during property sales. Additionally, it mandates prelitigation mediation for disputes and requires the Department of Justice to collect and report on related complaints.

Maddy summaryHB 57 officially designates the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, located in Transylvania County, as the State's Veterans History Museum. This bill amends Chapter 145 of the General Statutes to formalize this adoption.

Maddy summaryHB 24, titled "Restore Down-Zoning Authority," aims to reinstate the power of local governments to initiate "down-zoning." This means local governments would regain the ability to change zoning classifications for properties to allow for less intensive development or use. The bill achieves this by repealing Section 3K.1 of S.L. 2024-57, which had previously restricted this authority. If enacted, it would apply retroactively to December 11, 2024, ensuring that any local ordinances impacted by the repealed section are restored to their status prior to that date.

Maddy summaryHB 97 adds stomach cancer (gastric cancer) to the list of occupationally related cancers that qualify firefighters for "killed in the line of duty" benefits under North Carolina's Public Safety Employees' Death Benefits Act. This means firefighters who die from stomach cancer directly linked to their firefighting duties will automatically be eligible for death benefits, easing the process for families seeking compensation. The bill appropriates $500,000 annually from 2025-2027 to cover these benefits. It takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to qualifying deaths occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 254 designates the fourth Thursday of March each year as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day in North Carolina. This officially recognizes and honors the legacy of the African-American pilots, navigators, bombardiers, instructors, and support staff who trained at Tuskegee Institute from 1941 to 1949.

Maddy summaryHB 649 directs the North Carolina Collaboratory to study the state's county tier designation system. The study will examine potential changes to the criteria used for ranking counties, how tier designations are assigned, and the ranking timeframe. It will evaluate the impact of these changes on all 100 counties, programs that use the tier system, and the ease of doing business in the state. The Collaboratory is required to submit a preliminary report by December 2025 and a final report by December 2026.