Rep. James Roberson

Maddy summaryHB 1186 directs the North Carolina Collaboratory to create a pilot program that provides participating law enforcement agencies with new, more accurate drug-detecting technology to replace traditional color-based field tests. The bill requires these new devices to be portable, avoid relying on visual color changes for identification, and generate digital records for auditing and tracking emerging substances. Additionally, the program must conduct a comprehensive study to measure the technology's impact on case outcomes, officer safety, and the accuracy of drug testing across different communities.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill requires training programs for sexual assault nurse examiners to submit annual reports to the state Board of Nursing regarding graduate employment details. It also mandates that active nursing licensees register with the Board to provide and update their training credentials and practice locations. The legislation creates a database for this information and allocates $50,000 to help the Board implement these reporting requirements. These changes take effect in 2026 and apply to active nurses and their training programs within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 million in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to help Forsyth County and the City of Winston-Salem build a shared emergency operations center. The money will be given as a grant to the county to improve how the city and county coordinate their responses during emergencies. The legislation becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and does not include any conditions on how the funds must be spent beyond supporting the creation of the joint facility.

Maddy summaryHB 1161 establishes state protections for artificial intelligence across elections, education, employment, courts, and insurance. In elections, the bill bans the use of AI-generated images, videos, voices, or text in political advertisements and imposes severe penalties, including donation freezes, for violations. For schools, it empowers local districts to restrict student access to AI tools and allows for disciplinary action, while also mandating new middle school courses on critical thinking and technology awareness. The legislation appropriates funds to help implement these measures and applies to political ads immediately and to school policies starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the penalty charged to taxpayers in North Carolina when their checks or electronic payments for taxes bounce due to insufficient funds. Instead of the current rule that imposes the greater of a flat $25 fee or 10% of the payment amount, the new law sets a tiered penalty structure based on how often a person bounces payments within a five-year period. For the first two violations, the fee will be $25 plus 1% of the payment amount, while any subsequent violation will incur a $50 fee plus 2% of the payment amount, with a maximum penalty cap of $1,000. The legislation also includes an exemption for taxpayers who had sufficient money in their accounts but accidentally failed to initiate the transaction, and it provides funding to help educate the public and tax collectors about these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the mileage and per diem reimbursement rates for North Carolina state legislators to match the 2025 federal standards. It directly affects all members of the General Assembly by establishing that their travel pay for 2027 will be based on the Internal Revenue Service's business standard mileage rate and specific federal per diem amounts. The legislation also allocates $100,000 from the state's General Fund to cover the costs associated with implementing these rate changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1179 modifies North Carolina's property tax relief programs to help seniors and disabled homeowners by allowing them to combine two existing benefits and removing a strict income cutoff that previously denied aid to those just above the limit. The bill introduces a gradual phaseout for the elderly homestead exclusion, reducing benefits by 3.33% for every 1% of income earned above 55% of the state median, while also permitting eligible owners to stack this relief with the circuit breaker program. Additionally, the legislation clarifies rules for seniors living in shared or inherited properties to ensure they can receive full relief if no other non-spouse owner resides there. To offset the increased costs for local governments, the bill requires the state to reimburse counties for revenue losses and provides funding to support more frequent property tax reappraisals.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a special "Red Wolf" license plate for vehicle owners who wish to support the conservation of this native species. The plates will feature an image of a red wolf and carry an additional $30 fee, with specific portions of those funds directed to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for conservation, research, and habitat restoration efforts. To help launch the program, the state has appropriated $15,000 for plate design and production, while North Carolina State University is tasked with promoting the plate to its campus community and will report on its marketing efforts by September 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new advisory council and grant program in North Carolina to support high-quality after-school activities for children and youth up to age 18. The legislation establishes a dedicated fund that will receive state appropriations, federal money, private donations, and any future legal settlements from social media companies, with the Department of Public Instruction managing the distribution of these funds. Eligible organizations, such as community groups and schools, can apply for grants to run structured programs that focus on positive youth development, provided they serve rural or underserved areas and meet specific quality standards. The program includes a two-year limit on individual grants, requires regular evaluation of participant outcomes, and allows for renewal based on performance, while ensuring that new funding supplements rather than replaces existing resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1153 aims to increase transparency in North Carolina's state budget process by requiring more public involvement before final budget votes. The bill mandates that the General Assembly hold at least one public hearing and three committee meetings while also providing a week for citizens to submit comments online. Additionally, it makes requests for funding from state agencies and legislators public records once the budget is enacted, though it preserves legal protections for attorney-client communications. To support these new requirements, the legislation allocates $250,000 annually to the Legislative Services Commission for maintaining the online comment portal and covering hearing expenses.