Rep. Garland Pierce

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 213, titled "Post NC Veterans' Benefits," requires employers in North Carolina to display a notice about veterans' benefits. This bill mandates that employers with five or more persons working in a room post this information in a conspicuous place. The Commissioner of Labor will provide a digital or printed form of this notice. The poster must include details on services such as benefits and claims, employment and training, housing assistance, and how to request military records, with the Department of Labor consulting the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to create it.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 272, known as "The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act," allows certain law enforcement, probation/parole, and correctional officers in North Carolina to purchase additional retirement service credit. Officers who hold an advanced law enforcement or corrections certificate and have at least five years of membership service can buy up to four years of creditable service. This purchase applies to members of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System. To do so, they must pay a lump sum covering the full cost of the increased retirement system liability and an administrative fee, with the option for their employer to contribute to this cost.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 670 establishes the Career and College Pathways Innovation Challenge Grant Program, providing competitive grants to North Carolina community colleges. These grants support local and regional partnerships that aim to increase postsecondary enrollment and completion for students and adults, align educational offerings with workforce needs, and reduce educational opportunity gaps. The State Board of Community Colleges administers the program, awarding funds for initiatives like work-based learning and financial support beyond tuition. For the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years, $2 million is specifically allocated to community colleges in counties affected by Hurricane Helene. The bill appropriates $5 million in recurring funds for the program, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill revives and expands a program that allows eligible retired educators to return to work in high-need schools. It defines "high-need retired teachers" as beneficiaries of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System who meet specific retirement and service criteria, and are reemployed by local boards of education. A key provision ensures that earnings from this reemployment do not count against post-retirement earnings limits, allowing these teachers to receive both their full retirement allowance and a salary. The Department of Public Instruction is tasked with certifying these teachers, and local boards must report their employment status to the Retirement System.

Maddy summaryHB 114 (Employment Preference for Military Personnel) updates North Carolina's state employment policy to expand eligibility for hiring preference. It removes the requirement that military service must have occurred during a "period of war" and now includes active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their spouses/dependents in the preference program. The bill ensures state departments, agencies, and institutions must grant hiring preference to qualifying individuals (including active-duty personnel during service) for all employment events like initial hires, promotions, and transfers. This change directly affects military service members, their families, and North Carolina state employers by broadening who qualifies for employment preference without wartime service restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 671 establishes a four-year pilot program (2025-2026 through 2028-2029) that provides grants to North Carolina public high schools (grades 9-12) to form or support competitive speech and debate teams. Schools can receive up to $10,000 per team annually, covering coach stipends (capped at $2,500 for lead coaches and $1,500 for assistants) and competition expenses like travel and league fees. Participating schools must join the Tarheel Forensic League and National Speech and Debate Association, and the program allows students from schools without teams to join the nearest team (with students covering their own transportation). Funded by $500,000 yearly from the General Fund, the Department of Public Instruction will administer the program and report annually on grant usage and student academic outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 951 requires North Carolina to use state-owned property for childcare, directly affecting state employees, first responders, and community college staff/students. It mandates that new or renovated state buildings costing over $5 million include childcare or adult care centers if serving 250+ people, and creates a $5 million pilot program to establish three state employee childcare centers on unused state property. The bill also allocates $6 million for county grants to fund third-shift childcare for first responders in unused county buildings and requires feasibility studies for childcare at all community colleges and UNC campuses. These provisions include specific funding, reporting deadlines, and requirements for apprenticeship programs linking childcare centers with educational institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 888 appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association (a nonprofit) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds will directly support the Association's work in mobilizing, training, and certifying community health workers across North Carolina. This grant enables the Association to expand its workforce development efforts, specifically targeting the training and certification of community health workers. The bill affects the Association's operations and the community health workers they certify, but does not change health service delivery or eligibility for residents. The appropriation becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 910 creates a $2 million recurring grant program to increase teacher diversity in North Carolina public schools, primarily benefiting school districts, colleges, and community organizations. The bill funds partnerships that support recruitment, training, and retention of educators of color through specific initiatives like dual enrollment programs, paid clinical experiences, mentorship, and financial aid for aspiring teachers. Grants require evidence-based proposals addressing recruitment or retention gaps and must include long-term sustainability plans. Local school systems and institutions of higher education will administer the program, with annual reporting required to track progress toward diversifying the educator workforce.

Maddy summaryHB 931 limits towing fees to reasonable and clearly disclosed amounts, prohibits charging storage fees when towing companies are closed, and bans towing to locations without 24-hour vehicle recovery access. It requires towing companies to accept debit/credit/cash payments without processing fees exceeding 2% of the total. The Utilities Commission enforces these rules, imposing up to $5,000 penalties per violation for noncompliance. This bill directly affects towing companies and vehicle owners in North Carolina by regulating fee practices and payment options.