Rep. Mike Schietzelt

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the SEATBELT Act, requires drivers in North Carolina who have had their licenses revoked or limited due to serious speeding offenses to install an approved Intelligent Speed Assistance system in their vehicles as a condition for regaining driving privileges. The system automatically regulates a vehicle's speed to match posted limits, and drivers must keep it installed and functioning for one year after their license is restored. To comply, individuals must designate specific vehicles for use and provide proof of the system's installation before their license can be issued again. The legislation also establishes strict rules preventing the sale or misuse of data collected by these systems and makes it a crime to tamper with the technology. Additionally, the bill mandates that the costs for installing and monitoring these systems be paid by the driver, though a waiver process is available for those who cannot afford them.

Maddy summaryHB 87 (Educational Choice for Children Act) allows North Carolina to participate in a federal tax credit program that encourages donations to private scholarship organizations. The bill requires the State Education Assistance Authority to maintain and publish an annual list of qualifying scholarship groups operating in North Carolina, enabling donors to claim federal tax credits for contributions. These scholarships can cover elementary and secondary school costs, including homeschooling expenses, as permitted under federal law. The law becomes effective after 2026, with the Authority needing to establish necessary rules by July 2026 to comply with federal requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1042 updates North Carolina's property tax exemptions for nonprofit organizations that provide housing for low- or moderate-income individuals. The bill clarifies that land held by nonprofits for future affordable housing projects can remain tax-exempt for up to five years, with unpaid taxes deferred until the project is completed or the land is no longer used for this purpose. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new specific exemption for affordable rental housing, defining it as developments where more than half the units are rented to tenants earning at or below 80% of the area median income. These changes aim to provide clearer tax incentives for nonprofits developing and operating affordable rental properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year pilot program in North Carolina to test data-driven systems aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism, which currently affects one in four public school students. The Department of Public Instruction will select a single public school unit serving up to 15,000 diverse students to implement a vendor-provided platform that offers real-time monitoring, automated family communication, and targeted intervention strategies. Appropriated funds totaling $75,000 will cover technology costs, staff training, and program evaluation, with the pilot running from the 2026-2027 fiscal year through the 2027-2028 fiscal year. By the end of the program, the department must report findings on attendance improvements and operational efficiencies to determine if the initiative should be expanded statewide.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 390, titled "Alleviate the Dangers of Surgical Smoke," establishes new standards for surgical smoke evacuation in North Carolina. This bill requires all licensed hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to adopt and implement policies mandating the use of a smoke evacuation/filtering system during surgical procedures likely to generate surgical smoke. A smoke evacuation/filtering system is defined as equipment that captures, filters, and eliminates surgical smoke at its origin. The Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to take adverse action against facilities that violate these new requirements. This act is scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1192, known as the Energy and Housing Affordability Act, modifies how electric utilities in North Carolina handle changes in fuel costs and establishes rules for on-site power generation by large customers. The bill requires utilities to provide detailed data on fuel usage and emissions treatment to the Public Service Commission, which will then use a new sharing mechanism to adjust customer rates. Under this mechanism, if fuel costs rise or fall from a baseline, customers and utility shareholders will split the financial impact, with customers covering eighty percent and shareholders absorbing the remaining twenty percent of any variance. Additionally, the act appropriates funds to support a workforce housing loan program aimed at improving housing affordability.

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, titled the Keep NC Working Act, creates a new Short-Time Compensation Program in North Carolina to help employers avoid layoffs by reducing employee work hours instead. Starting in October 2026, eligible employers can submit a plan to the state Division of Unemployment Insurance to reduce employee hours by between 10% and 60% for up to one year. In exchange for these reduced hours, employees will receive additional unemployment benefits, while employers must ensure that health and retirement benefits continue as if the workers were still working full time. The program requires employers to maintain a clean record with the state regarding unemployment taxes and must have the agreement of any collective bargaining units involved.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $35 million in recurring state funds to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency for the Workforce Housing Loan Program. The funding is designated to support the program's operations and loans for eligible workforce members seeking affordable housing. These funds will become available starting with the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the authority for North Carolina counties to collect a one percent local sales tax on groceries, effectively exempting food from these local taxes. By removing the option for voters to approve this specific tax, the legislation directly affects county governments and consumers who currently pay this surcharge on food purchases. The change applies to sales made on or after October 1, 2026, and does not alter the existing state sales tax rules.