Rep. Abe Jones

Maddy summaryHB 367 requires North Carolina's State Crime Laboratory to provide sexual assault victims with updates on the status of their examination kits. Victims will be notified if their kit cannot be tested, if testing is declined for reasons other than untestability, or if the kit is scheduled for destruction. The law mandates that the lab develop procedures for these notifications but specifies victims must provide and maintain current contact information. This law takes effect October 1, 2025, applying to all kits submitted before, on, or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 129, the "Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Judicial Elections Act," reestablishes nonpartisan elections for all North Carolina judicial offices, including Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and superior and district court judges. The bill requires candidates to run without party labels, with primaries held only when more than two candidates file for an office, and winners elected based on highest vote totals (using a random draw only in tie situations). It also restores public financing for judicial campaigns, aiming to reduce partisan influence in judicial races. This bill directly affects judicial candidates, voters, and the election process for all statewide and local judicial positions in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 90 provides a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to retirement allowances for retirees in North Carolina's Teachers', State Employees', Judicial, Legislative, and Local Governmental Retirement Systems. The increase applies to retirees who retired on or before specific dates (ranging from July 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025), with those who retired later receiving a proportional increase based on months served during 2024-2025. The bill appropriates $250 million from the General Fund to fund this adjustment, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects current retirees in these five systems by increasing their monthly payments.

Maddy summaryHB 20, the "Fair Maps Act," proposes amending the North Carolina Constitution to establish an independent redistricting process. It would create a Citizens Redistricting Commission to redraw congressional and state legislative districts after each federal census, removing the General Assembly and Governor from the process. The bill requires districts to be contiguous, avoid splitting counties, and ensure equal population representation, with changes taking effect only after voter approval in 2026. This directly affects all North Carolina voters by changing how electoral districts are drawn for state and federal offices. The amendment must be ratified by voters in November 2026 before it becomes effective.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (not a policy bill) honoring former North Carolina House Representative Joseph "Joe" Robert John, Sr., who served District 40 from 2017-2025 and died January 20, 2025. The resolution expresses the House's appreciation for his public service, extends sympathy to his family, and formally recognizes his contributions to North Carolina's judiciary, criminal justice, and community. It has no policy impact or new legal provisions - its purpose is solely to memorialize his career and legacy. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the House on January 29, 2025.