Rep. Ben Moss

Maddy summaryHB 73, the Energy Security Act of 2025, requires all public utilities in North Carolina to install and maintain 24-hour security systems at their substations to protect against vandalism and other security threats. This law directly affects electric utilities operating substations across the state, mandating continuous operation of these security systems starting July 1, 2025. The bill amends North Carolina General Statutes to add Section 62-334, specifying the security requirements without creating new funding or penalties. It focuses on physical security measures for critical infrastructure without altering utility rates or service standards.

Maddy summaryHB 61 increases penalties for assaulting certain emergency personnel with a firearm in North Carolina. It reclassifies assaults against law enforcement officers, probation/parole officers, National Guard members, detention facility staff, emergency medical technicians, medical responders, firefighters, and law enforcement telecommunicators as a Class B1 felony (instead of Class D) when committed during their duties. The bill specifically targets firearm assaults, making them punishable by more severe prison sentences. This law takes effect December 1, 2025, for offenses occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 60 increases Medicaid dental reimbursement rates from 35% to 46% of average dentist charges (2023 rates) to align with neighboring states. The bill allocates $52 million annually from North Carolina's General Fund, matched by $95 million in federal funds, to cover this rate increase starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects dentists who accept Medicaid patients and Medicaid beneficiaries seeking dental care, aiming to boost provider participation and prevent costly emergency treatments. The change addresses years of stagnant rates that reduced dental provider enrollment in Medicaid.

Maddy summaryHB 39 excludes motor vehicles owned by veterans with a 100% disability rating certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from North Carolina property tax. It amends state tax law to add these vehicles as a designated exempt class under G.S. 105-275. The exclusion applies to vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects eligible disabled veterans who own motor vehicles, reducing their property tax burden. The bill does not change eligibility criteria or tax rates for other vehicle classes.

Maddy summaryHB 55 appropriates $250,000 annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Autism Society of North Carolina's IGNITE Program. The funds will support activities and education groups designed to help young adults with autism develop independence and social skills during their transition to adulthood. This recurring funding applies to the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and becomes effective July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects the Autism Society of North Carolina and the young adults with autism it serves through the IGNITE Program.

Maddy summaryHB 54 allocates $125,000 annually from the General Fund (2025-2027) to fund training programs developed by the NC Association of People Supporting Employment First (NC APSE). The training, delivered via online modules, will help employers, service providers, and other entities support individuals with serious mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities in finding and keeping competitive jobs. It focuses on evidence-based supported employment practices to improve job placement and retention. The bill directly affects individuals with these disabilities and the organizations that serve them, with training available statewide starting July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 36 requires North Carolina's Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to improve maintenance at all four state veterans cemeteries, directly affecting veterans' families and cemetery operations. The bill mandates addressing specific issues like headstone installation delays, equipment damage to graves, drainage problems, debris, and poor grounds appearance, while allowing military groups to volunteer for upkeep. It also directs the department to review and adjust funeral service policies, including chapel-only options, service duration, attendee limits, and grave visitation rules during services. The department must submit a report on these changes to legislative committees by October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 12 would require North Carolina and all its local governments to observe Eastern Standard Time year-round, eliminating the biannual clock changes for daylight saving time. This bill directly affects state agencies, local municipalities, and residents by keeping the state on standard time permanently, as permitted under federal law (the Uniform Time Act of 1966). The key provision amends state law to mandate year-round standard time, aligning with a federal provision that allows states to forgo daylight saving time. The bill would take effect on March 8, 2026, if enacted. This is a procedural change to time observance, not a new policy affecting services or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 10 establishes a bipartisan committee to study modernizing North Carolina's travel allowances for state employees, teachers, and officials like legislators. The seven-member committee - appointed by legislative leaders and the governor - will examine federal reimbursement rates, consult with hospitality and HR experts, and review historical travel policies. It must submit recommendations to lawmakers by March 15, 2026, but does not change current allowance amounts. This is a procedural study bill, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 9 prevents North Carolina counties and cities from creating local rules about sport shooting ranges or firearm discharge on private property. The bill explicitly blocks local governments from regulating where shooting ranges can be built (after 1997) or restricting firearm use on private land with the owner's permission, as long as projectiles don’t cross property lines. It directly affects local governments by invalidating conflicting ordinances and property owners who may use firearms on their land. The law becomes effective immediately upon passage, making any existing local rules about these issues unenforceable.