Rep. Renée Price

Maddy summaryHB 209 authorizes Durham Public Schools and Durham County to create affordable rental housing for teachers, police officers, first responders, and other Durham County employees. The bill allows these entities to partner using their existing land to build housing, with at least 75% of units reserved specifically for Durham Public Schools teachers. Rent will be set at reasonable, below-market rates, and all housing must comply with standard building and safety codes. The bill is currently pending in committee and does not change existing zoning or safety regulations for the housing units.

Maddy summaryHJR 157 is a procedural resolution inviting Governor Josh Stein to address a joint session of the North Carolina General Assembly on March 12, 2025. It directs a committee of five House members and five Senate members to extend the invitation and specifies that the governor's cabinet, Council of State members, and state judges may attend. This resolution does not create new policy or affect any laws; it solely schedules a ceremonial address. The invitation is effective upon ratification, as noted in the resolution's text.

Maddy summaryHB 130 establishes a $475 million program to provide financial assistance to North Carolina farmers who suffered crop losses from natural disasters in 2024. It directly affects farmers in counties designated by the USDA as disaster areas, requiring verified losses of eligible agricultural commodities (like crops, livestock, or specialty plants) planted but not harvested by January 1, 2024. The program uses county and state yield/price averages to calculate payments, mandates submission of USDA Form 578 or equivalent documentation within 30 days, and allocates funds from state reserves (Stabilization, IT, and Economic Development) to cover verified losses. Farmers must provide documentation for verification, and the Department of Agriculture may audit claims to ensure proper use of funds, with refunds required for inaccurate information.

Maddy summaryHB 207 removes legal barriers preventing workers from organizing or joining labor unions in North Carolina. It prohibits employers from requiring union membership, dues, or non-membership as a condition of employment or continued work for any employee, including public employees. The bill also invalidates agreements that tie agricultural contracts or litigation terms to union status and allows workers to seek legal damages if denied employment due to these violations. These changes apply to all new employment agreements entered into after the law takes effect, strengthening existing labor protections under North Carolina law.

Maddy summaryHB 204 restores local government authority to initiate down-zoning in Cabarrus County and its municipalities by removing the requirement for all affected property owners' written consent. The bill amends state law to allow county or municipal governments to change zoning (e.g., reducing density or permitted building types) without unanimous owner approval, as long as the change is government-initiated. This directly affects property owners in Cabarrus County whose land may be subject to zoning changes that limit development potential. The law applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, meaning existing down-zoning actions taken after that date under the previous rule would be invalid.

Maddy summaryHB 195 restores Chatham County and its municipalities' authority to change zoning to reduce development density or permitted land uses (down-zoning) without needing written consent from all affected property owners. It specifically amends state law to remove the requirement for all property owner consent when local governments initiate down-zoning, which was previously required under a 2024 law. The bill applies exclusively to Chatham County and takes effect retroactively to December 11, 2024, meaning any down-zoning ordinances affected by the prior law will revert to their pre-December 11 status. This directly impacts property owners in Chatham County whose land might be subject to zoning changes that limit future development or uses.

Maddy summaryHB 191 grants Durham County and Person County Schools flexibility in setting their 2025-2026 school calendar start date, allowing them to open as early as August 19 (instead of the usual August 26) if they have documented emergency closures (8+ days per year for 4 of the last 10 years). It also permits these districts to administer standardized assessments earlier if their fall semester ends before December 31. The bill modifies existing state requirements for school opening/closing dates and assessment timing specifically for these two counties. The changes apply only to the 2025-2026 school year and require documented emergency closure history to qualify for the earlier start date.

Maddy summaryHB 197 appropriates $25 million annually for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years to North Carolina's local health departments (LHDs) for communicable disease programs. The funding aims to address a 70% staff shortage in LHDs by enabling them to retain existing staff, hire additional public health professionals (including nurses), and expand essential services. Funds are allocated with half distributed equally among LHDs based on the number of counties served, and half distributed based on the percentage of state population each LHD serves. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, to support North Carolina's response to diseases like avian flu and mpox.

Maddy summaryHB 196 appropriates $1.5 million from the General Fund to the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, Inc., for a new biotechnology exhibit and laboratory. The funds will showcase North Carolina's biotech achievements and promote STEM career interest, directly benefiting the museum and students in the state. The bill creates a specific funding mechanism for this educational project, effective July 1, 2025. As a funding allocation, it does not alter laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 120 appropriates $1,040,514 annually for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to expand North Carolina's Project C.A.R.E. program. The bill directly funds support services for family caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. It provides recurring state funding to the Division of Aging and Adult Services to enhance existing caregiver assistance programs. The legislation becomes effective July 1, 2025, without altering eligibility or service requirements.