Rep. Frances Jackson

Maddy summaryHB 813 renames "multiunit assisted housing with services" as "registered residential facility" to clarify that these non-licensed residences are distinct from licensed adult care homes. It requires annual registration with the Department of Health and Human Services, mandates disclosure statements in rental contracts covering emergency systems and service costs, and prohibits these facilities from caring for residents needing ventilator support, 24-hour nursing care, or certain medical treatments without specific exceptions. The bill directly affects facilities currently operating under the old name and their residents, particularly those with complex medical needs. Key provisions include updated definitions, expanded restrictions on who can be served, and authorization for the Department to seek legal action against unregistered facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 792 appropriates $10 million (to the NC Clean Energy Innovation and Research Fund) and $4.5 million (to the One North Carolina Fund) for competitive grants in North Carolina's 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds target small businesses (under 100 employees), nonprofits, local governments, and state agencies to support clean energy innovation, renewable technology deployment, and energy efficiency projects. Key provisions include requiring matching funds for some grants and prioritizing workforce development in the clean energy sector. The grants aim to grow North Carolina's green economy through business development and market expansion in renewable energy. Funds not spent by June 30, 2027, will revert to the state's general fund.

Maddy summaryHB 788 ("Fix Our Democracy") proposes amending the North Carolina Constitution to establish a nonpartisan redistricting process for state legislative and U.S. House districts. It would require a constitutional amendment (voting required in 2026) to remove the General Assembly's role in drawing districts, mandating that districts be contiguous, avoid dividing counties where possible, and remain unchanged until the next census. The bill also includes related provisions like online voter registration, automatic registration, banning voter roll purging, and campaign finance transparency changes. This constitutional change would directly affect how electoral districts are created for state legislators and U.S. representatives in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 816, the Voucher School Transparency Act, requires nonpublic schools receiving Opportunity Scholarship funds in North Carolina to meet new reporting and accountability standards. These schools must annually provide parents with student test scores, maintain criminal background checks for staff with decision-making authority, administer standardized tests for grades 3+, and submit financial audits to the state if enrolling 70+ scholarship students or receiving $100,000+ in funds. The bill also mandates detailed annual data submissions to the state Division, including enrollment, teacher licensing, facility safety, and disability support compliance. The State Auditor must annually review audits of at least three such schools to ensure accountability. This directly affects voucher-funded nonpublic schools and their reporting practices, not public schools or general education policies.

Maddy summaryHB 809 amends North Carolina law to include students enrolled in the state's NC Pre-K program within the average daily membership count for local school districts. Specifically, it requires school boards participating in NC Pre-K to count Pre-K students receiving instruction in school-owned buildings toward their district's daily membership calculation. This change directly affects school districts that operate or host NC Pre-K programs in their facilities, as it will increase their reported student count for state funding purposes. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, altering how school funding is calculated for participating districts.

Maddy summaryHB 787 establishes a matching program for North Carolina residents contributing to the Parental Savings Trust Fund (a 529 program) and creates a tax deduction for such contributions. It provides a 2:1 state match (up to $1,500 per student annually) for eligible contributors - North Carolina residents with household income under 250% of the federal poverty level who open accounts for children aged 14 or younger. The bill also allows a state tax deduction of up to $2,000 per individual ($4,000 for joint filers) for contributions to the fund, with rules to adjust income if funds are withdrawn for non-education purposes. These changes aim to boost college savings for lower-income families, with the matching program starting July 1, 2025, and the tax deduction effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 810, effective July 1, 2025, provides North Carolina state employees with paid bereavement leave: up to 40 hours for the death of an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, sibling, or dependent living with them) and up to 8 hours for the death of a colleague. It applies to all state employees, public school staff, and community college workers, requiring documentation like a death certificate but allowing leave without exhausting sick or vacation time. Employees must use family leave within 180 days of the death and provide funeral attendance proof for colleague leave, with no annual limit on usage. The bill appropriates $2 million annually from the General Fund to cover these leave costs through the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.

Maddy summaryHB 794 mandates the North Carolina State Highway Patrol to study and develop recommendations on four specific areas: overall and regional staffing needs, and overall and rank-specific salary scales. The study requires the Patrol to assess staffing requirements based on state and regional needs, along with salary structures for all ranks. The Patrol must submit findings and recommendations to relevant legislative committees by March 1, 2026. This bill is procedural and does not enact new policies or funding; it solely requires a study to inform future legislative decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 798 appropriates $1.72 million annually from the General Fund to create a Cold Weather Shelters Grant Program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging. The program provides grants to municipalities and nonprofits to establish or expand temporary emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness during severe weather events. Grants are limited to $215,000 per recipient annually, with selection considering poverty rates in the service area and existing funding availability. Recipients must report annually on shelter usage, funds spent, and the number of people served, starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 784 prohibits the manufacture, transfer, and possession of semiautomatic assault weapons (like AR-15s) and large-capacity ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds in North Carolina, effective December 1, 2025. The bill defines specific firearms and features (e.g., folding stocks, pistol grips) that classify weapons as "assault weapons," while setting a 10-round limit for magazines. Exceptions include existing owners of such weapons before the law’s effective date, law enforcement, antique firearms, and weapons that cannot accept large magazines. Violations are punishable as a Class E felony.