Rep. Monika Johnson-Hostler

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Plyler Educational Protections Act, ensures that all children in North Carolina public schools receive equal access to education regardless of their immigration status or their parents' citizenship. It prohibits schools from denying enrollment, excluding students from programs, or asking for documentation related to a student's or parent's immigration history, with limited exceptions for legal warrants or parental consent. To enforce these protections, the legislation requires schools to create specific action plans that designate a single point of contact for immigration authorities and establish clear procedures for handling their requests on campus. Additionally, the bill mandates that schools notify parents within 24 hours if immigration officials visit the school and provides guidelines for sharing student information only when legally required or authorized.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new salary schedules for public school teachers and principals in North Carolina effective for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It sets specific monthly pay rates for teachers based on years of experience and adds bonuses for those with advanced certifications or degrees, while also adjusting compensation for school support staff like nurses and counselors. Principals will receive annual salaries determined by their school's student enrollment and performance growth scores over the previous three years. Additionally, the legislation enhances sick leave benefits for state employees and provides a cost-of-living adjustment for certain retirees.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve the connection between the court system and mental health services in North Carolina to reduce unnecessary jail time. It directs state agencies to create training for judges and staff on spotting mental health risks and to build a framework for sending court-involved individuals to treatment instead of detention. The legislation also updates legal standards for determining when someone is a danger to others and provides funding to support these new programs and data-sharing systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $10 million in recurring funds to the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to support Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapters. The money will be distributed as grants to eligible nonprofit DAV chapters across the state for renovating and expanding their facilities or providing additional resources to disabled veterans. Each chapter can receive up to $1 million per fiscal year, and the department will aim to select applicants from all regions of the state. The legislation also requires annual reports detailing the number of grants awarded, the specific chapters involved, and the amounts given, with the program becoming effective on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1017 aims to improve teacher quality and availability in North Carolina by creating new roles, funding recruitment programs, and launching studies to address workforce challenges. The bill directs the state to develop a comprehensive plan for reforming teacher licensing and compensation to attract more educators, while also studying how to better prepare and graduate 5,000 in-state teachers annually. Significant funding is allocated to support existing and new teacher recruitment initiatives, such as "Grow-Your-Own" programs and the Teaching Fellows loan program, specifically targeting high-need schools and subjects like special education and STEM. Additionally, the legislation mandates a study to coordinate recruitment efforts between universities and local school districts to ensure a more efficient statewide system.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special license plate for the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority in North Carolina and updates the fees and fund distributions for several other plates associated with the Divine Nine, a group of historically Black fraternities and sororities. The new plate will display the sorority's symbol, name, and its motto, "Greater Service, Greater Progress," while owners will pay a $20 additional fee on top of the standard registration cost. Money collected from these special plates is split between state funds and specific organizations, with the bill directing quarterly transfers to the educational foundations of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Sigma Gamma Rho. Additionally, the legislation organizes the list of all available special plates alphabetically to improve clarity.

Maddy summaryHB 1031 mandates that all public schools in North Carolina, including charter and laboratory schools, provide free breakfast and lunch to every student starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill requires the State Board of Education to allocate state funds based on factors like school size, student eligibility for free meals, and the quality of food served, while ensuring these funds supplement rather than replace existing resources. An initial appropriation of $116 million is designated to support this program, with the legislation taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $196,760 from the state's General Fund to North Carolina State University to launch a pilot pickleball program in eastern Wake, Halifax, and Lenoir Counties. The initiative aims to boost physical activity, foster social connections, and improve mental well-being in communities that currently lack safe recreational spaces. Funds will support a structured program that includes community input, marketing efforts, three months of weekly instruction, and an evaluation of health outcomes. Additionally, the project will create a toolkit to help similar programs be implemented across the state. The program is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a matching savings program and a tax deduction to encourage parents to save for their children's education in North Carolina. Under the new Parental Savings Trust Fund matching program, eligible parents with household incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines can receive a $100 match for every $50 they contribute to an account for a student aged 14 or younger, with a maximum annual match of $500 and a lifetime limit of $1,500 per student. The state will fund this matching program with $180,000 in recurring money starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Additionally, the bill allows taxpayers to deduct up to $2,000 from their state income taxes for contributions to these education savings accounts, with a $4,000 limit for married couples filing jointly. These provisions are designed to help low-to-moderate-income families build education funds while providing an immediate tax benefit for their contributions.

Maddy summaryHB 118 modifies North Carolina's property tax exemption for disabled veterans, replacing a flat $45,000 exclusion with a percentage-based system tied to the veteran's VA disability rating. It directly affects veterans with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating (or surviving spouses under specific conditions), allowing them to exclude a portion of their home's appraised value from property taxes - equal to their disability percentage. For example, a veteran with a 70% disability rating would exclude 70% of their home's value from taxes. The bill takes effect for taxes due in 2025 and prohibits combining this relief with other property tax exemptions.