Rep. Amos Quick

Maddy summaryHB 324 appropriates $800,000 from the Highway Fund to the Greensboro Transit Agency for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds are specifically allocated to $500,000 for the North/South Crossmax Orange Bus Route and $300,000 to launch a pilot program transporting high school juniors and seniors to Guilford Technical Community College campuses. This bill directly affects Greensboro Transit Agency operations and Guilford County high school students participating in the college transportation pilot. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, if enacted.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 317 restores the City of High Point's authority to initiate down-zoning without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. It reverses a prior law (S.L. 2024-57) that mandated such consent for down-zoning actions. The bill applies exclusively to High Point and takes effect retroactively to December 11, 2024, meaning any down-zoning ordinances adopted after that date will operate under the restored authority. Down-zoning refers to reducing permitted density, limiting land uses, or creating nonconforming conditions on properties.

Maddy summaryHB 326 requires North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to study ways to increase teacher planning time or reduce workloads that cut into it. The DPI must report to lawmakers by February 15, 2026, with specific recommendations, cost estimates, and other relevant findings. The bill allocates $5,000 in one-time funding for the study, which can include partnering with outside experts. This is a procedural study bill with no immediate policy changes; it aims to inform future decisions about teacher workloads in public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 296 establishes a $89.5 million program to provide financial assistance to North Carolina corn farmers who suffered crop losses due to 2024 disasters like drought and hurricanes in USDA-designated disaster counties. Farmers must verify losses using USDA forms or equivalent documentation within 45 days, with payments calculated using county yield averages and state price data. Funds can only be used for agricultural recovery expenses like replanting or equipment repair, and recipients must provide proof of eligible spending. The program builds on existing state disaster funds and requires strict documentation to prevent misuse, with potential audits and repayment for inaccurate claims.

Maddy summaryHB 299 increases the property tax exemption for disabled veterans in North Carolina from $45,000 to $54,000 of a home's appraised value. It directly affects qualifying disabled veterans who own and occupy their primary residence, allowing them to exclude a larger portion of their home's value from property taxes. The bill amends Section 105-277.1C of state law to reflect this higher exclusion limit, while maintaining that recipients cannot claim other property tax relief. This change takes effect for property taxes due on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 280 allocates $30,000 in one-time state funds to support the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature, a program for older residents to engage with state policy. The funding, from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, covers operational costs for this existing program established under state law. It directly affects the Senior Tar Heel Legislature by providing financial resources for its activities. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not create new policy but enables the program's continued operation.

Maddy summaryHB 269, the "Workforce Freedom and Protection Act," bans non-compete agreements for most North Carolina workers earning under $75,000 annually, prohibiting employers from restricting job mobility after termination or requiring such agreements as a condition of employment. It also directs the Legislative Research Commission to study occupational licensing requirements in key industries like construction, cosmetology, and healthcare to identify unnecessary barriers that may raise costs for consumers or limit job access. The study will evaluate licensing rules based on public safety justification, economic impact, and comparison to national standards, with recommendations for potential reforms. The bill does not immediately change existing licensing but sets a process for reviewing requirements that may disproportionately affect low- and moderate-income workers. The non-compete ban takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 267 automatically expunges court records for certain eviction cases in North Carolina, directly affecting tenants (defendants) in summary ejectment proceedings. It requires clerks to automatically delete records 30 days after cases are voluntarily dismissed before a possession order is issued. For cases where defendants win on the merits or lose but wait three years, they may petition for expungement after proving housing stability (e.g., consistent rent payments and no new eviction filings). The bill takes effect October 2025, with required court forms to be developed by September 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 281 restores local government authority to initiate "down-zoning" in six North Carolina municipalities (Morehead City, Beaufort, Bogue, Cape Carteret, Cedar Point, and Newport) without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. The bill amends state law to clarify that down-zoning - defined as reducing development density, limiting permitted land uses, or creating nonconforming features - can be enacted by a municipality itself. This reverses a prior change (S.L. 2024-57) that required property owner consent, making the new rule retroactive to December 11, 2024. The law directly affects property owners and developers in these specific towns by changing how zoning changes can be implemented.