Rep. Donna White

Maddy summaryHB 487 shortens the required separation period for retired assistant district attorneys and assistant public defenders before they can return to state employment. The bill changes North Carolina's retirement rules to allow these professionals to rejoin state work after 30 days instead of the standard six-month waiting period. This adjustment applies specifically to retired assistant district attorneys and public defenders who wish to return to state service. The policy change directly affects these two groups of retired state employees by providing greater flexibility for reemployment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires North Carolina state agencies and local governments to only purchase U.S. and North Carolina flags made entirely in the United States using domestically grown or produced materials. It prohibits using public funds for any U.S. or state flags not 100% manufactured in America from domestic materials. The rule applies to all new flag purchases starting October 1, 2025. It directly affects all government offices responsible for buying flags with public money.

Maddy summaryHB 160 requires North Carolina's University of North Carolina School of Medicine Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) to create and share evidence-based information about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) with all healthcare practitioners in the state. This includes current risk factors, conditions, and contact details for epilepsy support organizations, available on NC AHEC's website. Healthcare providers treating epilepsy patients will directly receive this standardized resource, which must be compiled by consulting medical boards and professional societies. NC AHEC must report the completed resource to the legislature by September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 828 prohibits proposition wagers (bets on specific in-game actions like player stats or minor occurrences that don’t affect the final outcome) on college and amateur sports, effective July 1, 2025. It also bans in-person sports betting at venues hosting college events during the eight hours before and during those events. The bill defines "proposition wager" specifically to exclude such bets, while allowing other forms of legal sports wagering. It directly affects sports facilities hosting college games, bettors placing these specific wagers, and operators managing wagering platforms. The law does not restrict betting on professional sports or the final outcome of college games.

Maddy summaryHB 826, titled "No Retaliation Against Mandatory Reporters," protects employees required by North Carolina law to report suspected abuse, neglect, fraud, or other threats to vulnerable populations (such as child welfare workers, healthcare providers, and sex offender compliance reporters). The bill prohibits employers from taking retaliatory actions like firing, demoting, or reducing pay against these employees for making good-faith reports. Key provisions require employers to inform workers of their rights, provide annual training on reporting duties, and establish a rebuttable presumption of retaliation if adverse actions occur within 60 days of a report. Enforcement is handled by the North Carolina Commissioner of Labor, who can order reinstatement, back pay, or fines up to $5,000 per violation.

Maddy summaryHB 471, the Food Labeling Transparency Act, requires manufacturers of cell-cultured and insect-based food products to clearly label items that use meat or poultry terms (like "beef," "chicken," or "burger") with qualifying terms such as "cell-cultured," "insect-based," or "lab-grown" in prominent, close proximity to the product name. This applies to products that mimic traditional meat or poultry but are made without animal slaughter, directly affecting manufacturers of these alternative protein products. The law mandates this labeling to prevent consumer confusion by ensuring the product’s origin is transparent, with enforcement starting October 1, 2025. It does not restrict the sale of these products but requires specific labeling to distinguish them from conventional meat.

Maddy summaryHB 384 would allow enlisted members of the North Carolina National Guard (ranks E-1 to E-5) who live in North Carolina to deduct their federal basic military pay from their state income tax. This policy change applies only to their federal service pay, not other income, and would take effect for taxes filed in 2025 and later. The bill amends North Carolina’s tax code to include this deduction for qualifying National Guard members. It does not alter federal tax treatment or apply to higher ranks or other military personnel.

Maddy summaryHB 802 requires all North Carolina public schools to adopt written policies banning the use of nicotine, hemp, and vaping products (including e-cigarettes and delta-8) in school buildings, on campuses, and at school events. Students under 21 found in possession of these products will have them confiscated, with parents notified within 24 hours; first offenses require schools to provide evidence-based cessation resources and education, while repeat offenses trigger disciplinary action. Schools must also distribute age-appropriate, Department of Health and Human Services-approved prevention materials to students at the start of each school year. The bill mandates schools to enforce these policies through clear signage, staff training, and collaboration with health officials.

Maddy summaryHB 790 prohibits the sale of tobacco, vape, and alternative nicotine products within 1,000 feet of any public or nonpublic school building. It directly affects vape and tobacco shops located near schools, banning sales in those zones while excluding home schools and colleges. The law includes an exception for incidental sales tied to a business's primary operations but classifies violations as Class 2 misdemeanors. The bill takes effect December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 810, effective July 1, 2025, provides North Carolina state employees with paid bereavement leave: up to 40 hours for the death of an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, sibling, or dependent living with them) and up to 8 hours for the death of a colleague. It applies to all state employees, public school staff, and community college workers, requiring documentation like a death certificate but allowing leave without exhausting sick or vacation time. Employees must use family leave within 180 days of the death and provide funeral attendance proof for colleague leave, with no annual limit on usage. The bill appropriates $2 million annually from the General Fund to cover these leave costs through the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.