Rep. Phil Rubin

Maddy summaryHB 1172, known as the Ciji Graham Act, establishes a High-Risk Pregnancy Care Navigation Program in North Carolina to assist patients with high-risk pregnancies by providing licensed nurse consultants who help coordinate care and address access barriers. The bill also creates a statewide pregnancy consultation hotline for healthcare providers and community organizations to offer real-time clinical guidance and referrals, alongside a centralized digital hub containing clinical guidelines and provider directories. Funded through the state's General Fund starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, these measures aim to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities by ensuring timely access to specialized care and resources.

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 North Carolina bill aims to increase access to quantum computing education by funding STEM programs in public schools, particularly those near military bases. It allocates $2.6 million to hire specialized teachers and create hands-on learning opportunities for students, while also establishing a $200,000 grant program for universities to partner with high schools on research projects. Additionally, the legislation creates an income tax credit for businesses that participate in these educational initiatives, though the specific details of the tax credit are not fully shown in the provided text.

Maddy summaryHB 1181 modifies North Carolina's property tax relief programs for seniors and disabled individuals by increasing the income limit for married couples and eliminating deferred tax liability under the homestead circuit breaker. The bill expands eligibility for the circuit breaker to include homeowners earning up to 70% of the area median income and introduces an alternative tax calculation for those who have owned their homes for at least 10 years. Additionally, the legislation appropriates funds to assist counties with property reappraisals and imposes an excise tax on the transfer of controlling interests in entities that hold real property interests.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing opaque facial coverings, such as balaclavas or tactical masks, while performing their duties, unless specific exceptions apply. The law allows for exceptions during active undercover operations, tactical situations requiring physical safety protection, and when protecting an officer's identity during prosecution, while also permitting religious head coverings and medical masks. To enforce this rule, agencies must create and publicly post written policies that prioritize transparency and limit the use of coverings to clearly defined circumstances. Additionally, the bill requires officers to clearly display their agency identification on uniforms and to identify themselves by name or badge number upon request. The legislation also includes a provision that removes certain legal protections for officers who commit specific torts, like assault or false imprisonment, while knowingly violating the facial covering ban.

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 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Child Welfare Case Escalation Team to provide an extra layer of safety review for juveniles with complex histories of abuse or neglect. The team, composed of state and local representatives, will be activated when cases meet specific risk criteria, such as multiple prior reports, patterns of medical neglect, or a history involving child fatalities. Once triggered, the team will conduct a thorough assessment of the case, identify gaps in services, and collaborate with county social services to develop improved safety plans. This new mechanism aims to ensure consistent quality assurance and better protect vulnerable children by addressing chronic issues that may have been missed in previous interventions.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs North Carolina's Utilities Commission to adjust electricity rates to reflect fuel costs that utilities incurred after a previous rate-setting period ended. It requires the commission to include these recent fuel expenses in rate calculations, provided they were reasonable and prudently spent, while explicitly excluding costs from before that earlier period. The law also mandates that any difference between what utilities collected and what they actually spent on fuel be corrected over a 12-month period with interest applied. Additionally, the bill allocates $10,000 in state funds to the commission to support the administrative work needed to implement these changes, which will take effect on July 1, 2026.