Rep. Julie von Haefen

Maddy summaryHB 474, titled "Right to Use Contraception," declares that North Carolina recognizes the right to use contraception to prevent pregnancy as a fundamental liberty. It directly affects all residents who use contraception by stating the state has "no legitimate governmental interest in limiting the freedom to use contraception." The bill amends state law to add a new Article 44, explicitly prohibiting state restrictions on contraceptive access for pregnancy prevention. This is a declarative policy change, not a funding or program measure, and would become effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 473 protects patients' and healthcare providers' rights to access and provide assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), by prohibiting state interference. It defines ART broadly and explicitly states that fertilized eggs or embryos outside the uterus are not considered "human beings" under North Carolina law. The bill also appropriates $500,000 annually (starting July 2025) from the state General Fund to increase Medicaid maternal support services (the Baby Love Program), matching $913,000 in federal funds for the 2025-2027 biennium. This legislation directly affects patients seeking ART, healthcare providers offering these services, and Medicaid beneficiaries receiving maternal support.

Maddy summaryHB 475 creates a pilot program allowing high school students aged 16 and older in Mecklenburg, Randolph, Union, and Watauga counties to obtain a state-issued special identification card at no fee. The bill requires schools and the DMV to coordinate on two designated school days each year (before and after December 31) for students to apply, with schools providing necessary information to the DMV. It also permits schools to request certified birth certificates for applications without making them public records. The pilot program runs until December 31, 2027, and does not apply to other counties or age groups.

Maddy summaryHB 452 makes it a crime to obstruct access to or threaten people at healthcare facilities in North Carolina. It prohibits blocking entrances, delaying care, or threatening patients, staff, or those helping others access services. The bill also restricts protests within 8 feet of people near facility entrances (unless consented to) and increases penalties: first offenses are misdemeanors, repeat offenses within three years become more serious misdemeanors, and third offenses escalate to felonies. This law directly affects individuals engaging in protests or obstruction near healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, and patients seeking care. It takes effect December 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 445 reinstates education-based salary supplements for teachers, instructional support staff (including school social workers), and requires school districts to publicly post minimum salary schedules for occupational and physical therapists. The bill allocates $8 million in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund these supplements, using a 2013 salary policy framework to determine eligibility based on academic degrees. School districts must publish therapist salary schedules online by October 15 each year, differentiating pay by experience in five-year intervals. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting educators and therapists in North Carolina public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 456, the "No Surprises for Ambulance Services Act," prevents unexpected high costs for ambulance services by requiring health insurance companies to cover both emergency and non-emergency ground ambulance transport without surprise bills. Specifically, it caps out-of-network cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for ambulance services at 110% of what would apply for in-network providers, ensuring patients aren’t charged more for using an ambulance outside their insurance network. This directly affects insured individuals who use ambulance services, especially in emergencies or when they cannot choose a network provider. The law also mandates insurers to clearly disclose coverage details for emergency services, including cost-sharing and how to access care.

Maddy summaryHB 460, the Medical Equipment Right to Repair Act, requires medical device manufacturers to provide hospitals, clinics, and independent repair shops with necessary support documents, tools, and parts to maintain and repair medical imaging (like MRI and X-ray machines) and radiation therapy equipment. The law mandates that manufacturers make these resources available at no cost (except for printing/shipping fees), automatically notify owners of updates, and offer the same training to independent repairers as they provide to their own authorized service teams. It prohibits manufacturers from restricting access to security systems or using agreements to avoid these requirements, while protecting trade secrets and limiting liability for repair-related damage. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to equipment in use after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 448 creates a temporary sales tax exemption in North Carolina for specific firearm storage equipment designed to prevent unauthorized access. The exemption applies to devices like gun safes, lockboxes, biometric locks, and similar home-use storage, but excludes display cases. It directly affects firearm owners purchasing qualifying storage solutions, eliminating the state sales tax on these items. The exemption is limited to sales between October 1, 2025, and October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires every public school in North Carolina - including traditional, charter, regional, and laboratory schools - to have at least one full-time, permanent school nurse starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill appropriates $95 million from the state General Fund for the 2025-2026 school year to fund these additional nursing positions, with funds designated to supplement - not replace - existing school nurse funding. It amends multiple statutes to mandate this staffing requirement across all public school units. The law becomes effective July 1, 2025, with implementation beginning for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 21 creates a voluntary designation on North Carolina driver's licenses for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as defined by state law. People with a medical diagnosis of ASD can request this designation by providing acceptable documentation, such as a healthcare professional's certification, to the Division of Motor Vehicles. The designation appears only in the license record and is accessible solely to law enforcement during interactions to promote safety - no other use is permitted. Individuals may add or remove the designation at any time without affecting their license eligibility or rights.