Rep. Maria Cervania

Maddy summaryHB 955, the NC Junk Fee Prevention Act, requires businesses like short-term lodging providers (e.g., Airbnb), telecom companies (internet, mobile, voice services), and ticket sellers to show the full price - including all mandatory fees - before a purchase. It bans deceptive or excessive fees, such as surprise resort charges or hidden ticket costs, and mandates that total prices displayed at the start of a transaction cannot increase during checkout. Businesses must clearly disclose all fees (e.g., processing or delivery charges) upfront and cannot charge unreasonable early termination fees for telecom services. This law directly affects consumers buying lodging, telecom services, or event tickets by ensuring transparent pricing and preventing hidden costs.

Maddy summaryHB 974 requires North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to study how hospice care facilities handle complaints from patients and families. The study will analyze complaint data, engage hospice administrators and care associations, and identify common issues and best practices for improving complaint procedures, investigations, communication, and family involvement. DHHS must submit findings and recommendations to legislative committees by April 2026, focusing on actionable steps for hospice facilities to enhance accountability. This bill does not change current laws but mandates a review to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 978 establishes the North Carolina Commission on Youth Mentoring within the Department of Health and Human Services to administer grants supporting local youth mentoring programs. The bill allocates $1.5 million annually from 2025-2027 to fund small-to-medium nonprofit organizations providing mentoring services, with specific goals to increase quality mentoring, reduce youth safety risks, and strengthen community connections. The Commission, composed of 15 appointed members including youth participants and community representatives, will manage the grant program, develop application processes, and submit annual reports on funding distribution and social impact to legislative committees. This legislation directly affects North Carolina-based youth mentoring nonprofits and aims to expand accessible, high-quality mentoring opportunities for young people across the state.

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 977, titled "Defend NC," primarily prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement actions, including arrests or removal warrants. This directly affects sheriffs' offices, police departments, and criminal justice officers statewide by banning cooperation with ICE under state law. The bill also includes non-binding provisions expressing intent to protect Medicaid eligibility, study federal funding losses in education, and explore replacing NIH research funds, but these do not create immediate policy changes. The core legislative action is the ban on law enforcement collaboration with ICE, effective upon enactment.

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 968 requires all North Carolina public K-12 schools to provide emergency preparedness education, beginning in grade 3 for elementary students and continuing through high school. It mandates state-developed standards for each grade level: elementary students learn about disaster types and school response plans, middle school students research past disasters and mass casualty events, and high school students are introduced to FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) materials. Local school boards must integrate this instruction into existing courses without adding new funding requirements. The law applies to all public schools statewide and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

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 982 would allow North Carolina's Department of Transportation to use automated speed cameras in highway work zones on state-maintained roads to detect speeding violations. The law establishes a $250 civil fine (not a criminal penalty or driver's license points) for speeding detected by these cameras, with the registered vehicle owner responsible for payment unless they provide evidence of another driver's control within 30 days. Warning signs must be posted 1,000 feet in advance, and owners receive mailed notices with violation details, including photos, allowing them to contest the fine through an administrative hearing or court. This pilot program directly affects drivers who speed in designated work zones and vehicle owners, with all fines directed to a new state fund.