Rep. Marcia Morey

Maddy summaryHB 927 allocates $31.7 million in state funds to Durham City and County for specific projects in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides $30 million for Durham County to upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Research Triangle Park, $500,000 for city park maintenance, and $500,000 for repairing rural roads in Durham County. The bill also funds court system modernization, including $503,481 for eCourts staffing and $500,000 for a legal support center to improve access to justice. Additionally, it requires the Department of Transportation to study road funding criteria for rural areas to ensure equitable project prioritization. These funds directly support Durham residents through enhanced infrastructure, public services, and court efficiency.

Maddy summaryHB 951 requires North Carolina to use state-owned property for childcare, directly affecting state employees, first responders, and community college staff/students. It mandates that new or renovated state buildings costing over $5 million include childcare or adult care centers if serving 250+ people, and creates a $5 million pilot program to establish three state employee childcare centers on unused state property. The bill also allocates $6 million for county grants to fund third-shift childcare for first responders in unused county buildings and requires feasibility studies for childcare at all community colleges and UNC campuses. These provisions include specific funding, reporting deadlines, and requirements for apprenticeship programs linking childcare centers with educational institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 885 revises North Carolina public school discipline policies to limit suspensions, prohibit corporal punishment, and improve parental notification. It defines suspension lengths (short-term up to 20 days, long-term over 43 days), bans corporal punishment entirely, and requires schools to make documented, multi-channel attempts to contact parents within one hour of disciplinary actions. The bill mandates schools to collect and publicly report demographic data (race, gender, disability status, etc.) on all suspensions, expulsions, and disciplinary actions. These changes directly affect all public school students in North Carolina, with specific restrictions on suspending kindergarten through third graders and requiring in-school suspension to not exceed 40 cumulative days per year.

Maddy summaryHB 887 defines "abandoned vessels" (left unattended >30 days without permission) and "derelict vessels" (in poor condition, like wrecked or sinking), directly affecting vessel owners and operators in North Carolina. It creates new rules requiring vessels to be secured properly to avoid damaging waters or property, limits docking in state waters to 10 days within any 30-day period, and gives the Commission authority to remove abandoned or derelict vessels from public or private land/waters without liability. The bill includes exceptions for historic shipwrecks under state custody and vessels abandoned during emergencies, where owners must notify authorities and remove the vessel within 10 days. This legislation aims to address safety and environmental risks posed by neglected vessels.

Maddy summaryHB 952 establishes the North Carolina Child Care Finance Agency to provide loans and bonds for constructing or rehabilitating childcare facilities. The agency will prioritize small providers (under 10 locations), high-quality licensed centers, faith-based organizations, and businesses offering on-site childcare for employees. It directly affects childcare providers, employers with childcare programs, and families seeking affordable, accessible care by financing facility development. This policy change creates a dedicated state mechanism to address North Carolina’s childcare shortage through targeted infrastructure investment.

Maddy summaryHB 888 appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association (a nonprofit) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds will directly support the Association's work in mobilizing, training, and certifying community health workers across North Carolina. This grant enables the Association to expand its workforce development efforts, specifically targeting the training and certification of community health workers. The bill affects the Association's operations and the community health workers they certify, but does not change health service delivery or eligibility for residents. The appropriation becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 910 creates a $2 million recurring grant program to increase teacher diversity in North Carolina public schools, primarily benefiting school districts, colleges, and community organizations. The bill funds partnerships that support recruitment, training, and retention of educators of color through specific initiatives like dual enrollment programs, paid clinical experiences, mentorship, and financial aid for aspiring teachers. Grants require evidence-based proposals addressing recruitment or retention gaps and must include long-term sustainability plans. Local school systems and institutions of higher education will administer the program, with annual reporting required to track progress toward diversifying the educator workforce.

Maddy summaryHB 931 limits towing fees to reasonable and clearly disclosed amounts, prohibits charging storage fees when towing companies are closed, and bans towing to locations without 24-hour vehicle recovery access. It requires towing companies to accept debit/credit/cash payments without processing fees exceeding 2% of the total. The Utilities Commission enforces these rules, imposing up to $5,000 penalties per violation for noncompliance. This bill directly affects towing companies and vehicle owners in North Carolina by regulating fee practices and payment options.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows federally licensed gun dealers in North Carolina to safely store firearms for private owners without charging a fee. It provides legal protection for these dealers against lawsuits if someone is injured or killed during the storage period, unless the dealer was negligent or acted unlawfully. The state Bureau of Investigation will create a standard form for these agreements and keep them confidential, while dealers cannot store illegally possessed guns or return weapons to prohibited individuals. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 933 increases Medicaid rates to ensure direct care workers for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities earn at least $18 per hour, affecting home/community providers, group homes, and waiver programs like NC Innovations. It adds 1,000 slots to the NC Innovations waiver program (with $36 million in annual state funding) and requires a 10-year plan to address unmet service needs. The bill also removes income and resource limits for Medicaid eligibility under the Health Coverage for Workers with Disabilities program. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, with $183 million in annual state funding supporting the wage increases and $36 million for new waiver slots.