Rep. Mike Colvin

Maddy summaryHB 1053 directs the North Carolina General Assembly to allocate additional state funds to the Department of Public Instruction for classroom supplies and equipment. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, the bill provides $28.6 million, with further increases of $15.1 million and $22.6 million planned for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 fiscal years respectively. These recurring funds are intended to increase the specific allotment given to schools for instructional materials and equipment. The legislation becomes effective on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the North Carolina Department of Commerce to create a biennial report assessing economic opportunity, affordability, and family economic security across the state. The report must use existing public data to track specific metrics such as poverty rates, job wages, household spending on essentials like housing and childcare, and access to education and workforce training. It will be submitted to legislative committees and the public by January 31 of each odd-numbered year, with funding of $200,000 allocated starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support its implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1045, known as the Fair Wages in Health Care Act, establishes minimum hourly wages for five specific direct care occupations in North Carolina: home care aides, direct support professionals, certified nursing assistants, psychiatric aides, and licensed practical nurses. The bill sets wage floors ranging from $18 to $24 per hour depending on the role, with protections against employers using different job titles to avoid paying the required rates. To help healthcare providers meet these new costs, the Department of Health and Human Services must adjust reimbursement rates for publicly funded programs and update contracts with managed care organizations. The law takes effect on October 1, 2027, and applies to all employers in the state, regardless of whether they are public or private entities.

Maddy summaryHB 1059 establishes a new state minimum wage of $15.00 per hour in North Carolina, which will automatically increase each year based on inflation starting in 2027. The bill creates the North Carolina Wage Board to review wage competitiveness and allows local governments to set their own higher minimum wages if they choose. It also introduces a short-time compensation program to help businesses manage layoffs during economic downturns and sets a lower minimum wage of $11.00 for small businesses with annual revenue under $400,000. Additionally, the legislation maintains existing provisions for subminimum wages for students, individuals with disabilities, and seasonal food service workers while clarifying rules around tip credits and pooling.

Maddy summaryHB 1057, known as the Affordable Food Act, aims to improve food security in North Carolina by expanding access to nutritious food and supporting local agriculture. The bill authorizes the state to request a federal waiver to create a program that matches SNAP benefits for purchases of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods at retailers and farmers markets. It also allocates state funding to administer these incentive programs and covers potential administrative losses due to recent federal changes to SNAP. Additionally, the legislation seeks to protect agricultural land from development and prohibits dynamic pricing in grocery stores to stabilize food costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new salary schedules for public school teachers and principals in North Carolina effective for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It sets specific monthly pay rates for teachers based on years of experience and adds bonuses for those with advanced certifications or degrees, while also adjusting compensation for school support staff like nurses and counselors. Principals will receive annual salaries determined by their school's student enrollment and performance growth scores over the previous three years. Additionally, the legislation enhances sick leave benefits for state employees and provides a cost-of-living adjustment for certain retirees.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve the connection between the court system and mental health services in North Carolina to reduce unnecessary jail time. It directs state agencies to create training for judges and staff on spotting mental health risks and to build a framework for sending court-involved individuals to treatment instead of detention. The legislation also updates legal standards for determining when someone is a danger to others and provides funding to support these new programs and data-sharing systems.

Maddy summaryHB 434, titled "Lower Healthcare Costs," is a procedural bill focused on updating definitions related to health insurance utilization review in North Carolina. It rewrites statutory definitions (e.g., "medical necessity," "clinical peer," "closely related service") within existing insurance regulations but does not introduce new cost-saving mechanisms or policy changes. The bill directly affects insurers, healthcare providers, and covered individuals by standardizing terminology used in prior authorization processes. As a definition-only update, it has no concrete policy impact on healthcare costs or patient access, and the title does not align with its actual scope.

Maddy summaryHB 118 modifies North Carolina's property tax exemption for disabled veterans, replacing a flat $45,000 exclusion with a percentage-based system tied to the veteran's VA disability rating. It directly affects veterans with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating (or surviving spouses under specific conditions), allowing them to exclude a portion of their home's appraised value from property taxes - equal to their disability percentage. For example, a veteran with a 70% disability rating would exclude 70% of their home's value from taxes. The bill takes effect for taxes due in 2025 and prohibits combining this relief with other property tax exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 907 creates a new Disaster Readiness and Response Fund within the Office of the State Treasurer in North Carolina. This fund is designed to be separate from the state's General Fund and other existing reserves, providing a dedicated financial resource for disaster-related activities. The bill does not specify how the money will be used or who will administer it, leaving those details for future legislation. It applies to the state government and establishes a new financial mechanism for potential future disaster preparedness and response efforts.