Rep. Tim Longest

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes constitutional changes to North Carolina property tax laws, with a primary focus on allowing the state to use area median income as a standard for granting tax relief. It also modifies the existing homestead circuit breaker to adjust income eligibility limits and expands funding for property reappraisals. Because the core amendment requires voter approval, the bill currently sets up a referendum to be voted on by the public in November 2026. If approved, the change would enable the General Assembly to create property tax exemptions based on local income levels across the state. Additionally, the legislation updates rules for nonprofit housing exemptions and directs grant money to county commissioners to support more frequent property valuations.

Maddy summaryHB 1084 clarifies the legal definition of electric bicycles in North Carolina by categorizing them into three classes based on motor power and speed limits, while also granting cities and counties the authority to create their own safety rules. Under this bill, electric bikes are generally allowed on roads and bike paths, but local governments can restrict their use on sidewalks or trails, set speed limits, and require helmets for riders under 18 on certain classes. Additionally, the legislation allocates $100,000 to the Department of Transportation to fund a public awareness campaign focused on electric bicycle safety and proper usage.

Maddy summaryHB 662 provides $40.48 million over two years for salary increases to North Carolina State Highway Patrol officers based on experience and rank, with starting pay at $56,000 and top ranks reaching $224,612 annually. It requires the Patrol to create policies allowing officers to take secondary jobs (e.g., security work) without conflicts of interest or performance issues, effective July 2025. The bill also allocates $3.25 million for bulletproof glass on all Highway Patrol and Capitol Police vehicles and $643,150 for infrastructure at the Huntersville station. These changes directly affect current and retired Highway Patrol members, aiming to improve recruitment, retention, and officer safety through concrete funding and policy adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 1066, the Child Care Stabilization and Affordability Act, aims to address North Carolina's child care shortages by redirecting funds from the Opportunity Scholarship Program to support child care services. The bill reduces scholarship funding for private school vouchers, with the savings used to expand child care subsidies, stabilize existing programs, and improve early childhood educator pay and benefits. It also streamlines administrative rules for child care providers and clarifies regulations for religious programs. These changes directly affect families seeking child care subsidies, private school scholarship recipients, and child care providers across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new loan program in North Carolina to help nonprofit organizations prepare land for affordable housing by offering below-market interest rate loans. The funds, totaling $50 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, can only be used for site-related expenses like land acquisition, utility installation, and environmental testing, but not for building the actual homes. To qualify, borrowers must be experienced nonprofits that provide zero-interest mortgages to buyers and ensure at least 40% of units in mixed-income projects are reserved for low- and moderate-income families. The program is designed to support the development of housing for households earning up to 80% of the local area median income.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies North Carolina's sales tax rules to exempt most prepared foods from taxation starting October 1, 2026. It defines "prepared food" as items sold hot or mixed together by a retailer, while explicitly excluding raw ingredients, simple sliced foods, and products from large-scale food manufacturers. The change would remove the sales tax burden for many ready-to-eat meals and combinations sold in stores, but it preserves the tax on specific items like bakery goods from small artisan bakeries, soft drinks, and candy.

Maddy summaryHB 1080, the Public Safety Reinvestment Act, allocates state funds to address staffing shortages and modernize safety measures across several North Carolina public institutions. The bill directs $30 million to hire additional court clerks in Wake and Mecklenburg counties, provides salary increases for Department of Adult Correction employees and State Highway Patrol members, and offers benefits enhancements for correctional officers in specific retirement systems. It also mandates that public transit vehicles carry emergency trauma kits and requires operators to implement stricter fare enforcement technologies and training. Furthermore, the legislation funds the Division of Juvenile Justice, the State Crime Laboratory, and includes provisions for reporting fare evasion data and safety incidents.

Maddy summaryHB 1077 creates a grant program for North Carolina community colleges to train students as tax preparers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, allowing them to help low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and limited English speakers file their taxes for free. The bill provides $1.38 million in initial funding and $610,000 in recurring funds to support curriculum development, faculty incentives, and paid work-based learning opportunities where students earn hourly wages during tax season. Additionally, the legislation allocates $840,000 to the United Way of North Carolina to expand its VITA services by increasing the number of locations, hiring dedicated staff, and improving outreach and financial education resources. These measures aim to help an estimated 225,000 eligible North Carolina filers claim the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which has an average value of about $2,894 per person. The act takes effect on July 1, 2026, and includes provisions for training and technical assistance to ensure the program runs effectively.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program in North Carolina that requires individuals convicted of domestic violence to register on a public list if they have at least one prior domestic violence conviction. The State Bureau of Investigation will maintain this registry, which will include the offender's name, date of birth, conviction details, and a photograph, while keeping addresses and social security numbers private. Registration periods last two years for one prior offense, five years for two prior offenses, and ten years for three or more prior offenses, with fees of $150 paid by the offender to cover registry costs. The law takes effect on December 1, 2026, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date, though prior convictions do not need to have occurred by then.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $85 million in state funds to cover administrative cost losses for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in North Carolina, which result from a federal law reducing federal funding. The money is split between the state Department of Health and Human Services and the county-level Division of Social Services, with funds distributed to counties based on their specific financial losses. These allocations are strictly limited to the actual amount of lost federal receipts and will become available starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.