Rep. Maria Cervania

Maddy summaryHB 860, the Social Media Control in Information Technology Act, requires social media platforms with over 1 million U.S. monthly active users to stop using North Carolina minors' (under 18) personal data for advertising or algorithm-driven content recommendations. It mandates platforms to provide clear, easy-to-use privacy tools allowing users to control data sharing, with special opt-in consent required for minors' data. The bill prohibits "dark patterns" in consent processes and defines strict terms like "personal information" to cover data ranging from location to health details. Violations would be treated as unfair business practices under North Carolina law, with funds appropriated for enforcement. The law directly affects major social media platforms operating in North Carolina, focusing on protecting minors' data privacy rather than addressing broader social media use.

Maddy summaryHB 923 requires North Carolina counties and cities to remove specific personal information (such as physical addresses and phone numbers, but not names) from public websites when requested by certain legal professionals. Eligible requesters include state judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and federal law enforcement attorneys, who must submit written requests with required details. The bill mandates that local governments remove the information upon valid request, keep requests confidential, and prohibit re-adding the information without a written revocation. It also strengthens protections for law enforcement officers' residence details in personnel files, ensuring such information remains non-public except for safety-related disclosures.

Maddy summaryHB 543 requires all applicants for athlete agent registration in North Carolina to undergo a criminal history background check as a condition of obtaining or renewing their license. This directly affects individuals seeking to work as athlete agents within the state, including new applicants and those renewing existing registrations. The bill mandates that applicants pay a $250 fee for the check (as specified in Section 2 of the bill), consent to fingerprinting, and allows the State Bureau of Investigation to conduct the check using state and federal records. All background information remains confidential and is not considered a public record under North Carolina law.

Maddy summaryHB 429 would have authorized a special license plate for North Carolina vehicle owners supporting the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine's Turtle Rescue Team. The bill specified a $30 annual fee per plate, with $20 directly funding the Turtle Rescue Team's work rehabilitating turtles, while $10 went to a state fund. However, the bill explicitly states this plate program expired on July 1, 2016, meaning it is no longer active or available for purchase. The legislation primarily affected vehicle owners who chose to buy this specific plate, with the fees supporting the Turtle Rescue Team's wildlife rehabilitation services.

Maddy summaryHB 231 establishes North Carolina's participation in the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing licensed social workers from participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses in each state. The bill directly affects licensed social workers seeking to provide services in multiple states, particularly those serving military families or addressing workforce shortages. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses among member states, accountability for social workers practicing where clients are located, and streamlined processes for disciplinary information sharing. This reduces duplicate licensing requirements while maintaining state authority to protect public health and safety through existing licensure systems.

Maddy summaryHB 569 requires PFAS manufacturers (those who produce PFAS compounds like GenX) to pay public water systems for cleaning up PFAS contamination in drinking water when levels exceed EPA safety limits. It allows the Environmental Quality Secretary to order polluters to cover actual cleanup costs, including technology to reduce PFAS levels, and applies retroactively to expenses since 2017. The bill appropriates $300,000 for implementation and mandates annual reports on fund use, with water systems refunding ratepayers when manufacturers cover costs. This directly affects water systems burdened by PFAS cleanup, PFAS manufacturers deemed responsible, and ratepayers who may see reduced future water rates.

Maddy summaryHB 485 requires North Carolina's Medicaid agency to request federal approval to extend Medicaid coverage for personal care services to adults living in licensed adult care homes who earn more than the current State-County Special Assistance income limit but stay below 180-200% of the federal poverty level. The bill specifically targets individuals who would qualify for lower-income Medicaid assistance if not for their higher earnings. Before implementing this coverage, the agency must submit a CMS request meeting three conditions: covering the specified income group, ensuring cost savings offset new expenses, and complying with legal requirements. This bill does not immediately change coverage - it only authorizes a federal request, pending CMS approval.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 754 aims to protect disabled and older adults from financial exploitation. It empowers financial institutions to take action when they reasonably suspect such exploitation by updating relevant laws. Financial institutions are required to report suspected cases to law enforcement and social services, and they can contact designated "trusted contacts." The bill also allows these institutions to temporarily delay or refuse suspicious transactions for up to 30 days and grants them immunity from liability for these good-faith actions.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 597 designates the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) as the official state raptor of North Carolina. This bill amends Chapter 145 of the General Statutes to formally adopt the osprey as a state symbol.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 818 aims to standardize access to new birth certificates for adopted individuals, making the process similar to those who are not adopted. It directs the State Registrar to prepare a new birth certificate for adoptees that lists their adoptive parents and contains no reference to the adoption itself. The bill specifies that certified copies of these new birth certificates can be provided to the adoptee, their children, adoptive parents, and other immediate adoptive family members. It also ensures original birth certificates and adoption records remain sealed, while counties receive copies of the new certificate to replace the original. This act is intended to apply to new birth certificates for persons adopted before, on, or after October 1, 2025.