Rep. Donna White

Maddy summaryHB 402 requires North Carolina state agencies to assess the financial impact of proposed permanent rules. If a rule would cost affected individuals or businesses $20 million or more over five years, it must be approved by the General Assembly before taking effect. For rules with a $1 million or more annual cost impact, agencies must prepare a fiscal note for review by the Office of State Budget and Management. The bill also mandates a two-thirds vote by agency boards to adopt rules exceeding the $1 million cost threshold. This directly affects state agencies creating regulations and the businesses or residents who would bear the costs of those rules.

Maddy summaryHB 318 requires North Carolina county jails and detention facilities to check the immigration status of individuals charged with specific offenses (including certain felonies, misdemeanors, and impaired driving) and to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if a detainer is issued. If ICE issues a detainer, facilities must hold the person for up to 48 hours (or until ICE takes custody) and notify ICE 2 hours before the person would otherwise be released. For pretrial defendants facing similar charges, the bill mandates a two-hour hold to allow ICE to issue a detainer; if none is received, the defendant must be released. The law also shields state officials from liability when following these procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 805 requires North Carolina state agencies and local governments to use biological sex definitions (based on reproductive anatomy at birth) in all policies, replacing gender identity as a legal equivalent. It directly affects state programs, including healthcare, education, and civil rights enforcement, by mandating that "female," "male," and related terms refer solely to biological sex as defined in the bill. The bill also creates a new "Prevent Sexual Exploitation of Women and Minors Act" with definitions for consent and intimate visual depictions, while including provisions on birth certificates, school accommodations for religious objections, and parental access to library materials. These changes take effect January 1, 2026, and are intended to align state law with federal directives referenced in the bill's preamble.

Maddy summaryHB 907 creates a new Disaster Readiness and Response Fund within the Office of the State Treasurer in North Carolina. This fund is designed to be separate from the state's General Fund and other existing reserves, providing a dedicated financial resource for disaster-related activities. The bill does not specify how the money will be used or who will administer it, leaving those details for future legislation. It applies to the state government and establishes a new financial mechanism for potential future disaster preparedness and response efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 546 modernizes North Carolina's Medicaid program by requiring the state to develop team-based care coordination for individuals with alcohol and opioid use disorders, including screening, medication, and recovery support. The bill also allows telehealth-only providers to enroll in Medicaid without needing a physical office in the state and mandates a statewide specialty plan for children in foster care or receiving adoption assistance, to be implemented by December 2025. These changes directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries with substance use disorders, telehealth providers, and eligible children and families. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the implementation of the substance use care and telehealth provisions by October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 210 establishes minimum standards for the care and maintenance of licensed cemeteries in North Carolina, directly affecting cemetery operators and license holders. The bill requires the Cemetery Commission to set these standards - covering tasks like grass cutting, grave upkeep, and facility repairs - and allows the Commission to impose $50 civil penalties for violations, with a 10-day notice period before penalties apply. It also mandates annual reports from cemetery companies detailing all care and maintenance work performed, using forms provided by the Commission. These provisions aim to ensure consistent upkeep of cemetery properties while holding operators accountable for compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 975 allows North Carolina emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to carry pepper spray openly or concealed while on duty, subject to mandatory training (up to law enforcement standards), provider approval, and a ban on use during patient transport in ambulances. It also exempts EMS personnel from needing a veterinary license to provide emergency medical care to injured police K-9 units or certified search and rescue dogs at emergency scenes. The bill grants limited immunity for EMS personnel acting in good faith during such care, but not for gross negligence or intentional misconduct. These provisions take effect on July 1, 2025, for pepper spray use and 30 days after enactment for animal care exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 537 creates a legal presumption of death for individuals missing for at least 90 days during a declared disaster (state or federal), simplifying legal processes for families. It requires the Office of Vital Records to process birth and death certificate amendment requests within 30 days of receiving complete applications. The bill also prohibits Office of Vital Records staff from teleworking unless during a declared emergency, to maintain processing timelines. These changes directly affect families of missing persons in disaster zones and individuals needing vital record corrections.

Maddy summaryHB 576 makes technical revisions to North Carolina's laws governing the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It designates DHHS as the agency managing school nurse funds, requiring school nurses to focus solely on health services (like health education and emergency response) rather than instructional duties. The bill extends until June 2028 the temporary use of the federal health insurance marketplace for determining Medicaid eligibility, and clarifies that Medicaid coverage for people released from prison continues for up to 12 months post-release. It also updates Medicaid provider screening rules to align with federal standards, particularly for Indian Health Program providers.

Maddy summaryHB 590 establishes licensing requirements for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals in North Carolina, directly affecting radiographers, radiation therapists, sonographers, and others performing these procedures. The bill creates a new "Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Board of Examiners" to set education standards, administer licensing exams, and ensure practitioners are "educationally prepared and clinically competent." It requires all non-licensed practitioners (e.g., radiographers, radiation therapists) to hold a state license before performing procedures involving ionizing radiation or medical imaging, with limited exemptions for licensed physicians. The law aims to protect patients by mandating standardized training and oversight for these technical roles.