Rep. Frances Jackson

Maddy summaryHB 574 establishes a Workforce Development Pilot Project in North Carolina. This bill provides funds to the Office of State Budget and Management to be allocated to the North Carolina Workforce Development Coalition (NCWDC). The NCWDC will then provide grants to eligible North Carolina-based employers, with 20 to 1,500 employees, to support employer-sponsored training programs. These grants aim to increase job creation, reduce employee turnover, improve wages, and upgrade worker skills, especially in industries with identified training gaps. Employers can receive up to 50% of eligible training costs or $2,000 per trainee, with a maximum of $40,000 annually per employer.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 743 (HB 743) allows direct support professionals to permanently reside in specific licensed group homes where they provide services to clients. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSR) to adopt rules necessary to implement this change for facilities licensed under 10A NCAC 27G .5601(c)(3). DHSR is also required to report its progress on these changes to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by September 30, 2025. This legislation aims to establish a framework for live-in support within these residential settings.

Maddy summaryHB 631 establishes a joint legislative study commission to examine the feasibility of creating a State Infrastructure Bank in North Carolina. This commission will investigate how such a bank could sustainably finance various infrastructure projects, including transportation, environmental, energy, and housing, to support economic growth and community development. Composed of legislators, state officials, and appointed experts, the commission will hold public meetings across the state and provide recommendations to the General Assembly by late 2026.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 635 requires certain large group health benefit plans to provide coverage for fertility diagnostic care, treatment, and preservation services. This bill directly affects individuals covered by these plans, aiming to increase their access to fertility-related medical care. Key provisions include mandatory coverage for at least three in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles per insured, provided procedures follow American Society of Reproductive Medicine guidelines and are performed at licensed facilities. However, the requirements do not apply to plans offered by religious institutions or self-insured group health plans, and explicitly exclude experimental procedures or nonmedical costs for donor gametes or surrogacy.

Maddy summaryHB 555, "Medicaid Telehealth Services," aims to ensure that certain telehealth providers can enroll as Medicaid providers in North Carolina. The bill specifies that individual health care providers licensed by the state who offer services exclusively through telemedicine are not required to maintain a physical presence in the state to be eligible for Medicaid enrollment. Similarly, medical provider groups that exclusively offer telemedicine services will not need an in-state service address to be eligible for the state's Medicaid program. This bill directly affects telehealth providers and medical groups by removing location-based requirements for participating in Medicaid.

Maddy summaryHB 824 aims to expand access to treatment for opioid use disorder and overdose for individuals covered by health benefit plans. It requires health insurers to cover specific healthcare services provided by pharmacists, such as testing and medication administration, if those services are within a pharmacist's scope of practice. The bill also mandates coverage for all FDA-approved prescription drugs for opioid disorder and overdose, prohibiting prior authorization for these medications. Additionally, it updates state laws to ensure mental health benefits in health plans are no less favorable than physical health benefits, aligning with federal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HB 508, proposes to lower the maximum interest rate that can be charged on certain open-end credit plans, including revolving credit card accounts, in North Carolina. It reduces the aggregate monthly interest rate cap from one and one-half percent (1.5%) to one and seventeen hundredths percent (1.17%) on the unpaid balance. These changes directly affect consumers who use credit cards and the lenders who provide these services, taking effect for charges made on or after October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 634 updates North Carolina laws to enhance parity in health insurance coverage for mental health and addiction recovery. It requires all health benefit plans to provide benefits for mental health conditions that are no less favorable than those for physical illnesses, including applying the same financial limits. A key provision mandates that medical necessity determinations for substance use disorders must rely solely on the most recent American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria. The bill also requires the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees to comply with these new utilization review standards and updates terminology from "chemical dependency" to "substance use disorder" in relevant statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 985 increases the criminal penalty for assaulting a school employee or volunteer in North Carolina. It reclassifies such assaults from a Class A1 misdemeanor to a Class I felony when the incident occurs while the individual is performing their duties or as a result of their duties. The bill broadly defines "school employee or volunteer" to include staff, independent contractors, and adult volunteers involved in school activities. It also protects school personnel from civil or criminal liability for taking reasonable actions to end student fights. Finally, the bill updates supervisor reporting requirements for assaults and prohibits intimidating employees from reporting these incidents.

Maddy summaryHB 573 proposes to eliminate the standardized testing requirement for individuals applying for a teacher license in North Carolina. The bill repeals existing laws that mandate these examinations and prohibits the State Board of Education from adopting any future rules or policies requiring them. This change directly affects all applicants seeking a teacher license, including those pursuing a limited license.