Rep. Marcia Morey

Maddy summaryHB 1153 aims to increase transparency in North Carolina's state budget process by requiring more public involvement before final budget votes. The bill mandates that the General Assembly hold at least one public hearing and three committee meetings while also providing a week for citizens to submit comments online. Additionally, it makes requests for funding from state agencies and legislators public records once the budget is enacted, though it preserves legal protections for attorney-client communications. To support these new requirements, the legislation allocates $250,000 annually to the Legislative Services Commission for maintaining the online comment portal and covering hearing expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for electric utilities serving large data centers in North Carolina, which are defined as facilities with a power demand of over 20 megawatts. It requires utilities to file specific tariffs that ensure these large customers pay for all the costs of building and maintaining the necessary power infrastructure, preventing rate hikes for regular residential and business customers. To protect the public, the law mandates strict contract terms, including a minimum 10-year commitment and a requirement for data centers to use at least 85% of their requested power, along with financial guarantees to cover potential risks if a facility closes early. Starting in 2028, no large data center can receive electricity unless the utility has a tariff approved by the state commission that meets these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs North Carolina's Utilities Commission to adjust electricity rates to reflect fuel costs that utilities incurred after a previous rate-setting period ended. It requires the commission to include these recent fuel expenses in rate calculations, provided they were reasonable and prudently spent, while explicitly excluding costs from before that earlier period. The law also mandates that any difference between what utilities collected and what they actually spent on fuel be corrected over a 12-month period with interest applied. Additionally, the bill allocates $10,000 in state funds to the commission to support the administrative work needed to implement these changes, which will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a paid bereavement leave program for state employees, public school staff, and community college workers in North Carolina, effective July 1, 2026. It grants up to 40 hours of paid time off for the death of an immediate family member and up to eight hours for the death of a colleague who worked at the same agency within the past year. The legislation requires employees to provide documentation of the death and mandates that leave for family members be used within 180 days, while also allocating $2 million from the state budget to fund these benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal pathway in North Carolina allowing individuals to sue anyone, including federal officials, for violating their rights under the U.S. Constitution. It establishes a civil cause of action that permits victims to seek monetary compensation, court orders to stop the violation, and payment for legal fees. The law explicitly states that it does not allow lawsuits against the state itself or waive the state's immunity from being sued. Additionally, the bill appropriates $150,000 to fund public education efforts about these new rights, with the main provisions taking effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits gambling on prediction markets in North Carolina by amending state gambling laws to explicitly include these platforms. It defines a prediction market as any online or physical platform where people bet money on the outcome of future events, making such activities a Class 2 misdemeanor for operators and participants. The law applies to both residents and non-residents offering services to North Carolina users and takes effect on December 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill allocates $10,000 in state funds to the State Lottery Commission to support enforcement efforts starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Workforce Act of 2026, provides funding and policy changes to expand workforce development programs in North Carolina. It allocates $3.1 million to the Community Colleges System Office to support the ApprenticeshipNC program, which helps connect employers with learners through work-based training. The legislation also directs the Department of Commerce to maintain a list of industry-valued credentials and collect data on wages and job outcomes to better align education with labor market needs. Additionally, it increases financial aid for short-term workforce development grants to help students pursue credentials that are not eligible for federal funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $200 million in recurring state funds to expand access to the North Carolina Pre-K program for all income-eligible four-year-olds. The additional money is directed to the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure these children can participate in the program starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and does not alter existing eligibility criteria or program requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1178, known as the NC Teacher Pay Competitiveness Act, establishes a permanent salary increase plan for public school teachers in North Carolina to help the state compete with neighboring regions. The bill creates a new salary schedule that begins in the 2026-2027 school year and mandates annual raises of 3.67% until 2033, after which increases will be tied to federal employment cost data. Additionally, the legislation provides specific monthly bonuses for teachers with advanced certifications or degrees and adjusts funding for the Opportunity Scholarship program.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in North Carolina through three main changes. It mandates a minimum wage increase of $18 per hour for direct care workers by raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for providers and facilities, with funds appropriated starting in fiscal year 2026-2027. Additionally, the legislation adds at least 1,000 slots to the state's Medicaid waiver program and requires the creation of a ten-year plan to address unmet service needs. Finally, it seeks to remove income and asset limits for the state's Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities, allowing more individuals to qualify for coverage regardless of their earnings or savings.