Rep. Donna White

Maddy summaryHB 69, the Military and Veterans Educational Promise Act, provides two key benefits for military-affiliated individuals and veterans at North Carolina's University of North Carolina (UNC) schools. First, it requires UNC institutions to allow eligible military members (including reservists) and their spouses to defer admission for up to five years (for active duty) or two years (for reserve service) upon enrollment notice. Second, it establishes in-state tuition rates for honorably discharged veterans who served at least 90 days in the military, graduated from a North Carolina high school after 2004, had a North Carolina duty station, or received a Purple Heart. The bill applies to all UNC institutions beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 272, known as "The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act," allows certain law enforcement, probation/parole, and correctional officers in North Carolina to purchase additional retirement service credit. Officers who hold an advanced law enforcement or corrections certificate and have at least five years of membership service can buy up to four years of creditable service. This purchase applies to members of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System. To do so, they must pay a lump sum covering the full cost of the increased retirement system liability and an administrative fee, with the option for their employer to contribute to this cost.

Maddy summaryHB 695 amends the allocation of 911 funds to support the state's VIPER public safety radio network. This bill requires the 911 Board to allocate a minimum of 20% of total 911 service charges to the State Highway Patrol. These funds are designated for the support and maintenance of the VIPER system, specifically for its role in 911 services, ensuring interoperability among 911 systems, and facilitating first responder dispatch. This change aims to enhance emergency communications and dispatch capabilities throughout the state and becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 632 revises North Carolina's hazing laws, repealing the existing statute and creating a new one with an expanded definition of hazing. It establishes criminal offenses for individuals who participate in hazing against minors or students, and for local, national, and postsecondary educational institutions whose leadership or employees knowingly fail to intervene or actively participate. The bill also introduces penalties for individuals who fail to seek medical assistance for an injured minor or student during hazing. Penalties for violations range from misdemeanors to felonies, including potential fines for both individuals and organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill revives and expands a program that allows eligible retired educators to return to work in high-need schools. It defines "high-need retired teachers" as beneficiaries of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System who meet specific retirement and service criteria, and are reemployed by local boards of education. A key provision ensures that earnings from this reemployment do not count against post-retirement earnings limits, allowing these teachers to receive both their full retirement allowance and a salary. The Department of Public Instruction is tasked with certifying these teachers, and local boards must report their employment status to the Retirement System.

Maddy summaryHB 218 requires the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to include a request for emergency contact information on applications for drivers' licenses, learners' permits, and identification cards. This applies to both new applications and renewal applications. Providing this emergency contact information will be optional for the applicant. The act is set to become effective on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 113 creates a joint legislative committee to study potential changes to North Carolina's Medicaid program if federal funding decreases. The 12-member committee (six senators appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore, six representatives appointed by the House Speaker) will examine cost-saving options like reducing optional services, adjusting provider payments, or improving managed care efficiency. It must submit a final report with recommendations to the General Assembly by April 30, 2026, but the bill itself does not make any direct policy changes to Medicaid. This is a procedural measure establishing a study body, not a policy enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 399 increases fees for nursing licensure applications, renewals, and reinstatements with most fees doubling (e.g., registered nurse application fees rise from $75 to $150, renewal fees from $100 to $200). It directly affects nurses seeking initial licensure, renewing licenses, or reinstating lapsed licenses in North Carolina. The bill establishes a 20% annual cap on future fee increases and specifies no refunds will be issued. These changes apply to all applications, renewals, or reinstatements processed on or after October 1, 2025. The bill does not alter nursing practice standards or create new regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 640 requires North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services to regularly verify eligibility for public assistance programs like Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. It mandates monthly or quarterly data sharing with state agencies (e.g., Vital Records, Labor, Lottery Commission) and federal databases (e.g., Social Security, National Directory of New Hires) to check income, employment, residency, and other factors affecting benefits. The bill also requires the department to publicly post nonconfidential, aggregated data on fraud investigations and improper payments quarterly. This directly affects individuals enrolled in health and housing assistance programs by strengthening how their eligibility is reviewed.

Maddy summaryHB 935 prevents county election boards from using fire or emergency response agency properties as polling places if doing so would interfere with emergency services. It requires the fire chief to determine that the property's use as a polling site would hinder emergency response, appeal to the county commissioners, and have the commissioners rule in favor of the fire chief's objection. This law directly affects fire departments and election officials by creating a formal process to protect emergency facilities from being requisitioned for voting purposes.