Rep. Bill Ward

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the SHALOM Act, adds a new section to North Carolina law that officially adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism. The law requires state agencies and organizations to use this definition as a guide for training, education, and identifying hate crimes or discrimination against Jewish people. It also establishes a framework for tracking and reporting incidents of antisemitism within the state. The legislation includes a specific provision stating that adopting this definition does not violate free speech rights protected by the U.S. and state constitutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime in North Carolina called money laundering, which applies to anyone who knowingly handles money or property derived from criminal activities. The law defines specific actions that are illegal, such as hiding, moving, or investing these funds, but only if the total value involved is at least $10,000. Punishment depends on the amount of money, with cases under $100,000 classified as a Class H felony and those $100,000 or more as a Class C felony. Additionally, the bill allows authorities to seize any property used in or gained from these offenses and clarifies that related actions can be counted together to determine the severity of the crime.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires lodging establishments, vacation rental property managers, and their contractors to complete human trafficking awareness training and display public awareness signs. The Department of Labor will create or select this training in consultation with state agencies and industry groups, ensuring it is free and accessible to staff performing housekeeping, food service, or check-in duties. Employers must keep records of completed training for three years and report suspected trafficking to law enforcement or a national hotline. Violations of these new requirements can result in administrative penalties ranging from $500 for a first offense to $2,000 for subsequent offenses. The legislation also modifies existing laws related to human trafficking and adjusts the definition of a victim under the state's crime victim compensation act.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the University of North Carolina system to finance specific capital improvement projects using non-state funds, such as gifts, grants, and hospital receipts, rather than taxpayer money from the General Fund. The legislation allows the universities to issue revenue bonds or special obligation bonds to cover the costs of renovations at East Carolina University, dormitory upgrades at Fayetteville State University, and new infrastructure and research buildings at UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Wilmington. A key provision permits the Director of the Budget to adjust project costs or funding methods if deemed necessary in the state's best interest. Ultimately, the bill enables these institutions to proceed with construction and renovation plans without requiring additional appropriations from the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis amendment to House Bill 223 allows the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to permanently hire certain temporary employees without going through the standard state hiring process. To qualify for this streamlined hiring, a temporary worker must have held a substantially equivalent role for at least six months with satisfactory performance and must have been hired through the Office of State Human Resources Temporary Solutions Program. The provision applies only to positions with an annual salary of $80,000 or less and exempts the hiring from most requirements like public job postings and interviews, though it still mandates background checks and other standard pre-employment conditions. This authority is set to expire 180 days after the law is enacted, and the department must report on the number and types of positions filled under this program by July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the North Carolina State Board of Elections to adopt additional methods for maintaining voter registration lists, including cross-checking data with other states and utilizing address-updating services from the Postal Service. It also mandates the creation of a system to investigate and correct information provided by election integrity organizations to identify and remove ineligible or duplicate registrations. The legislation further establishes a requirement for the board to submit quarterly reports detailing the number and types of corrections made to the voter rolls. These changes are designed to enhance the accuracy of voter lists while ensuring compliance with federal voting rights laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires anyone creating political advertisements in North Carolina to clearly state that the ad was generated using artificial intelligence. The law applies to a wide range of sponsors, including candidates, political parties, and other groups, covering ads on social media, websites, email, text messages, and automated phone calls. For digital ads, the disclaimer must follow existing size rules, while phone calls must include the statement for at least two seconds so it is easily understood. Failure to include this required label could result in a Class 1 misdemeanor charge for the sponsor.

Maddy summaryHB 984 creates a new legal process in North Carolina that allows property owners to request law enforcement agencies to quickly remove people who are occupying their private residential homes without permission. To use this process, an owner must file a sworn complaint stating that the occupants are not tenants, have no legal right to the property, and have been told to leave, while also confirming there is no ongoing lawsuit between the parties. If a police department or sheriff's office verifies the complaint, they are required to remove the unauthorized individuals within 48 hours and may arrest them for trespassing or other offenses. The bill also establishes that property owners must pay for police time if they request officers to stay on site to help change locks or secure the property, and it provides a way for removed individuals to sue for damages if the removal was done incorrectly.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state constitution to eliminate the literacy test requirement for voting. By removing this specific provision, the legislation ensures that all eligible citizens can vote regardless of their reading or writing abilities. The change directly affects voters who previously might have been disenfranchised by this barrier. It does not alter other voting qualifications or the overall structure of the election process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Transportation Emergency Reserve fund of $125 million to help North Carolina cover costs during major disasters, with funds accessible only after a federal declaration and subject to strict reporting requirements. It also creates a pilot program allowing the Department of Transportation to use a specific "Progressive Design-Build" procurement method for up to five projects under $500 million, where contractors are selected based on qualifications before finalizing costs. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the department to increase the project cap for this pilot program, enabling larger infrastructure initiatives to be tested under this new delivery system.