Rep. Phil Rubin

Maddy summaryHB 961, the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act," increases sentencing for felony convictions where the victim was targeted due to their race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, country of origin, or gender. If proven, the offender faces a sentence one felony class higher than the original charge (e.g., Class C felony becomes Class B). The bill requires the indictment to allege the bias motivation, and the state must prove it beyond a reasonable doubt during the same trial. It takes effect December 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 965 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to guarantee all North Carolinians the right to clean water, clean air, and a preserved environment, including protection of natural resources like air, water, wildlife, and soils. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, it would automatically become part of the state constitution, requiring the state to act as a trustee of natural resources for present and future generations. The amendment would not change current environmental laws but would establish a new constitutional standard that future legislation must align with. This bill must still pass through the legislature and gain voter approval to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 969 directs North Carolina's Legislative Research Commission to study replacing the current "contributory negligence" rule (which bars injury claims if a plaintiff shares any fault) with comparative negligence systems. The study must evaluate how abolition would affect citizens, assess harms from the current rule, analyze fiscal impacts on insurance and businesses, and recommend the best negligence framework. It does not change law immediately but requires a 2026 report with legislative recommendations. This bill affects future legal claims for injury victims and insurers by examining potential policy shifts. The study is the only concrete action; no voting or implementation occurs until after the report.

Maddy summaryHB 960 would temporarily increase North Carolina's unemployment insurance weekly benefits to $600 during declared disasters, directly affecting unemployed workers in areas impacted by disaster declarations under state emergency management law. It requires the state to set aside specific funds in the unemployment insurance fund for these enhanced benefits and mandates certification that sufficient funds are available before implementation. The benefit increase applies only for the duration of an official disaster declaration and ends when the declaration expires. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 984 creates a framework for medical cannabis research in North Carolina, permitting studies on cannabis as a treatment for qualifying medical conditions. It establishes a state database requiring research institutions (like hospitals or universities), physicians, caregivers, and patients to register, while setting strict product limits (under 0.9% THC, at least 5% CBD). The bill protects registered researchers, caregivers, and patients from prosecution for participating in approved studies and requires secure disposal of unused cannabis. It directly affects medical researchers, healthcare providers issuing certifications, and patients enrolled in these studies, but does not legalize recreational use or broader medical access.

Maddy summaryHB 989 creates a statewide grant program to improve school safety in North Carolina public schools. It provides funding for three specific purposes: (1) crisis services for students (like therapy and family support), (2) evidence-based training for staff on trauma response and suicide prevention, and (3) safety equipment purchases (such as bullet-resistant glass, alarms, and security systems). Grants must supplement, not replace, existing school safety funding, and charter schools can now receive equipment grants. The program limits annual spending to $350,000 per grant category and prioritizes equipment like exterior door locks and active shooter alarms.

Maddy summaryHB 1002, the Rate Payer Protection Act, prohibits North Carolina utilities from passing grid and energy costs specifically tied to large data centers (100+ megawatt demand) to electricity ratepayers. Instead, it creates a 14-member Special Commission to plan data center infrastructure, reviewing grid capacity, recommending locations based on factors like fiber and water access, and advising on energy expansion needs. The Commission must report findings to state leaders by June 2027 and expires on that date. This directly affects ratepayers (who avoid these costs) and utilities (which must exclude data center-related expenses from rate calculations).

Maddy summaryHB 983 prohibits corporal punishment in all North Carolina public schools, directly affecting students and school staff. The bill replaces existing permissive rules with a full ban, requiring schools to maintain detailed records of any past use (though none currently occur), report demographic data on disciplinary actions annually, and allow parents to opt their children out of corporal punishment. It clarifies that physical restraint under federal law or reasonable force isn't considered corporal punishment. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 970 (Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing) prohibits landlords and third-party service providers in North Carolina from using algorithms that coordinate rent pricing based on nonpublic competitor data. It bans real estate lessors from paying for or exchanging value for "coordinating functions" (like algorithms analyzing competitors' rent data) and prevents service providers from facilitating non-competition agreements among landlords. The law classifies violations as unfair trade practices under Chapter 75, allowing affected parties to sue and blocking pre-dispute arbitration agreements for such cases. It applies to residential rentals (apartments, houses, etc.) and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1004 proposes to allocate $16 million (one-time) and $8 million annually to establish up to eight Artificial Intelligence Hubs at UNC campuses, including at least one HBCU or UNC Pembroke, requiring institutions to match 10% with non-state funds. It also appropriates $70 million for Technology Hubs at all UNC campuses to drive innovation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship, plus $30 million for research grants focused on AI applications in education, healthcare, ethics, and infrastructure. The bill directly affects UNC system campuses, researchers, and students through funding for hubs, infrastructure, and project grants. It requires reporting on hub activities and becomes effective July 1, 2025, pending legislative approval.