Rep. Maria Cervania

Maddy summaryHB 882 requires packaging producers in North Carolina to reduce non-reusable packaging by 10% within two years and 40% by eight years, while ensuring 50% of packaging is recycled within five years and 90% by twelve years. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of packaged goods sold in the state, mandating they join producer responsibility organizations to meet these targets. The bill also bans intentionally added PFAS (forever chemicals) in covered products and requires packaging to include a minimum amount of postconsumer recycled content. These requirements apply to all packaging used for products sold, offered for sale, or distributed in North Carolina, excluding medical packaging and long-term storage materials. The law aims to reduce plastic waste and toxic chemicals in the state's waste stream through measurable, time-bound producer obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 867 creates a permitting program for large dry litter poultry operations in North Carolina (over 30,000 birds), requiring them to obtain permits before operating or expanding waste management systems. It directs the Environmental Review Commission to study the environmental and health impacts of these operations - including nutrient runoff, pathogens, and odor - and recommend regulations. The bill updates waste management plan requirements, mandating 180-day advance permit applications for new or expanded systems. This directly affects the state’s approximately 4,863 dry litter poultry facilities, which collectively handle over 544 million birds annually.

Maddy summaryHB 881 bans the manufacture, use, and distribution of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) in North Carolina, directly affecting businesses that currently use these chemicals in products like firefighting foam, non-stick coatings, or food packaging. The law requires companies discharging wastewater to disclose PFAS and 1,4-dioxane levels and remove them if feasible, while public water systems must notify customers about PFAS detected in drinking water by June 2025. It establishes civil penalties of up to $25,000 for violations, with stricter fines for repeat offenses. The bill focuses on preventing contamination and protecting public health through these concrete regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryHB 871, the North Carolina Microplastics Study Act, directs the North Carolina Collaboratory at UNC Chapel Hill to study the impacts of microplastics (tiny plastic particles 1 nanometer to 5 millimeters in size) in the state’s waters. The bill requires the Collaboratory to identify microplastics, research their ecological and health effects, develop standardized testing methods, and create a risk assessment framework by collaborating with state agencies like the Department of Environmental Quality. The study must produce a comprehensive report with recommendations for reducing plastic pollution, including potential policy changes, by July 2026. The $150,000 allocated funds the research, public engagement, and report development, but the bill itself does not impose new regulations or directly affect businesses or residents.

Maddy summaryHB 861 requires pregnancy centers in North Carolina receiving state funds through the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship (CPCF) to participate in a competitive grant process. It mandates detailed applications covering staff credentials, services offered (including medical testing and ultrasounds), equipment use, and advertising practices, along with annual reporting on client demographics (by age, race, income), services provided, and fund expenditures. The bill sets strict limits on administrative spending (10-15% of funds) and requires all grant funds to be used for nonsectarian purposes only. This directly affects nonprofit pregnancy centers receiving state funding under CPCF, requiring them to disclose operational details and report service outcomes to state agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 835 requires North Carolina public schools to include age-appropriate lessons about Asian American and Pacific Islander contributions in all K-12 courses starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates curriculum covering specific topics, including early immigrant labor (e.g., railroad construction), historical challenges faced by Asian communities, roles in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, and contributions to government, arts, sciences, and North Carolina's development. It directly affects all students and educators in North Carolina's public school system by integrating these topics into standard coursework. The law specifies that lessons must be tailored to students' age levels and cover the listed historical and cultural elements.

Maddy summaryHB 839 updates North Carolina's Advanced Teaching Roles (ATR) program for public schools. It requires classroom excellence teachers to serve 20% more students than prior years, allows ATR schools to exceed K-3 class size limits for up to three years with state funding, and increases salary supplements to $10,000 for adult leadership teachers (up to 25% of ATR school teachers) and $3,000 for classroom excellence teachers (up to 10% of ATR school teachers). The bill applies to participating ATR schools beginning the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 856 clarifies that deed restrictions, covenants, or similar agreements cannot prohibit the installation of solar collectors (for water heating, space heating/cooling, or electricity) on residential properties. It specifically voids restrictions that prevent solar installations, while allowing reasonable rules about placement or screening if they reduce efficiency by 10% or less. This affects homeowners in single-family homes or similar residential properties (excluding certain condos in multi-story buildings) and their homeowners' associations. The law applies to agreements recorded after it takes effect, ensuring solar access without blocking reasonable maintenance or visibility rules.

Maddy summaryHB 863 appropriates $582 million in state funds to address unmet recovery needs in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. It directly affects residents and businesses in the impacted area by funding affordable housing repairs, disaster-related home improvements, business grants, park restoration, flood protection, and emergency services. Key provisions include $105 million for local housing grants (covering repairs, homelessness assistance, and mortgage help), $75 million for stream restoration and food banks, and a $75,000 business grant program for eligible companies with sales tax declines. The funds are distributed across state agencies like Housing Finance, Agriculture, and Public Safety to support physical recovery and economic stabilization.

Maddy summaryHB 838 creates a new satellite broadband grant program for the Department of Information Technology, prioritizing eligible entities (like state/local governments, nonprofits, and ISPs) in the 39 counties affected by Hurricane Helene to purchase satellite internet installation materials and service for their own use. It also repurposes up to $50 million from existing broadband funds to reimburse communications providers for repairing Hurricane Helene-damaged broadband infrastructure, with priority given to restoring service and limits on reimbursement. The bill updates the Broadband Pole Replacement Program to clarify reimbursement rules (50% of eligible costs, capped at $10,000 per pole), requires pole owners to provide timely cost estimates for infrastructure work, and mandates public reporting of program data. These changes aim to accelerate broadband deployment and recovery in underserved areas impacted by the hurricane.