Rep. Garland Pierce

Maddy summaryHB 374 allocates $3.95 million to fund a financial assistance program for small local governments through the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments (NCARCOG). It directs NCARCOG to hire 32 additional finance professionals to help small towns and public authorities with financial compliance, prioritizing those with limited resources on the State Treasurer’s assistance list. The bill also provides $3.9 million for NCARCOG to develop a disaster response plan, including training for local financial administration, assistance with federal disaster funds, and infrastructure repair support. These funds, effective July 1, 2025, aim to improve financial management and disaster resilience for smaller communities across North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 361 allocates $1.8 million for training county register of deeds employees, $500,000 for a public awareness campaign about real property fraud, and $30 million in grants to county offices for technology upgrades. The grants will fund digitizing records, purchasing scanning equipment, upgrading software, enhancing digital security, and improving network systems to prevent deed and title fraud. An additional $1 million is reserved for county offices without existing fraud detection systems. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, directly affecting county register of deeds offices and the public through reduced fraud risks.

Maddy summaryHB 365, the Workforce Education Act, revises North Carolina's community college funding model to base allocations on student enrollment in workforce-focused programs like career training and continuing education, starting in 2025-2026. It creates an Enrollment Increase Reserve (funded with $6 million initially) to provide additional support to colleges experiencing enrollment growth exceeding 5% or 325 students, preventing funds from reverting to the general budget. The bill also expands funding for cooperative high schools in underserved areas, with tiered payments based on county development status (e.g., $740,000 for first high schools in "Tier One" regions). These changes directly affect community colleges, public school students accessing career programs, and participating high schools seeking to expand workforce education opportunities.

Maddy summaryHB 360, the Homeowner Protection Act, targets fraud involving residential property documents. It increases penalties for forging deeds, leases, or wills related to homes (making it a Class D felony instead of Class H) and creates an expedited court process for victims. Homeowners affected by fraudulent property records can file a "memorandum of possible fraud" to trigger a court hearing, where judges can void the false documents and clear title clouds. The law also requires recording offices to flag fraudulent instruments and prohibits fees for these protective filings. The bill is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 371 requires North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles to provide driver's license handbooks and written tests in Khmer and any language spoken by at least 2% of the state's population. This directly affects applicants who speak these languages by offering materials in their preferred language during the licensing process. The key provision mandates the DMV to add these language options to its standard services, moving beyond English-only requirements. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 351 establishes North Carolina's Recovery-Friendly Workplace Program, which helps employers support employees in addiction recovery. Employers (both public and private) can become "participants" or earn "certified" status by completing training, adopting inclusive policies (like flexible leave and confidential treatment access), and implementing evidence-based practices. The program, funded with $300,000 from the Opioid Settlement Fund, provides employers with advisors, model policies, and annual reviews to maintain certification. It directly affects all North Carolina employers covered by workers' compensation and their employees seeking recovery support. The program becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 341 increases property tax relief for disabled veterans in North Carolina by expanding the homestead exclusion on their primary residence. The bill sets exclusion amounts based on disability rating: $100,000 for 70%+ disability, $75,000 for 50-69%, $50,000 for 30-49%, and $25,000 for 10-29%. Surviving spouses qualify for the greater of the veteran’s exclusion amount or $45,000, provided the veteran’s death resulted from a service-connected condition. This policy directly affects qualifying disabled veterans and their surviving spouses who own and occupy their primary residence, effective for taxes due in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 344, the Litter Reduction Act of 2025, requires a deposit on most beverage containers (like soda, water, and alcohol in glass, plastic, or metal) sold in North Carolina, with refunds available at certified redemption centers. It directly affects beverage distributors, retailers (excluding small businesses selling under 250,000 containers yearly), and consumers who purchase these products. The bill establishes a system where consumers pay a deposit at purchase and can return empty containers to redemption centers for a refund, aiming to reduce roadside litter from beverage containers. Key provisions include defining "beverage container," requiring redemption centers to accept containers, and setting recycling standards to avoid downcycling or waste-to-energy processing.

Maddy summaryHB 343 appropriates $380,000 for 2025-26 and $397,000 for 2026-27 to create four full-time ombudsman positions within North Carolina’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. This directly affects residents of nursing homes, adult care homes, and family care homes by enhancing advocacy for their rights and care quality. The bill’s key provision funds staff to move the state’s program toward national standards for resolving facility issues without formal complaints. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, with no advocacy language - only a concrete funding mechanism for expanded protections.

Maddy summaryHB 316 reenacts North Carolina's Child Tax Credit to help families cover child care costs, with reimbursement percentages based on income and child age (e.g., 7-13% for dependents aged 6-12). It allocates $200 million annually to expand the NC Pre-K program, adding 32,000 slots for 4-year-olds, and $35 million to increase subsidized child care funding. The bill also requires public schools to provide free lunches at no cost to students through state funding tied to school nutrition evaluations. Additionally, it mandates a report on creating a high school child care apprenticeship program. The bill directly affects families with children, public schools, and child care providers across North Carolina.