Rep. Alan Branson

Maddy summaryHB 636 establishes new procedures for public school units to select and review library media and materials, affecting students, parents, and school personnel. The bill requires schools to adopt policies that ensure materials are age-appropriate and do not contain content defined as "harmful to minors," which includes depictions of sexual activity or pervasively vulgar content. It mandates a review process involving a community library advisory committee, public posting of recommended materials, and a mechanism for public objections. Additionally, the bill requires the creation of a public database for rejected materials and allows parents, guardians, students, or residents to pursue private legal action against schools violating these provisions. Principals are also required to review all media available at school book fairs for compliance.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 432 aims to provide various forms of property tax relief to North Carolina homeowners. It increases the property tax exclusion amounts for qualifying elderly or disabled homeowners and expands the exclusion for disabled veterans, allowing more of their home's value to be exempt from taxation. The bill also establishes a new "Homeowner Advantage Property Tax Relief Program" designed to cap the annual increase in a permanent residence's taxable value, based on inflation and a cumulative limit. To qualify for this program, homeowners must have occupied their residence for at least two years. Additionally, the bill creates an "Elderly Property Tax Homestead Circuit Breaker Program" and exemptions from the forced sale of a homestead.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates "The Andy Griffith Show" as the official television show of the State of North Carolina. This symbolic act recognizes the cultural impact of the show and its connection to the state.

Maddy summaryHB 949, known as the School Protection Act, proposes to allow specific armed security guards to carry firearms on nonpublic educational property in North Carolina. The bill amends existing law to create an exemption for sworn law enforcement officers who are hired as armed security guards by nonpublic schools and are acting in their official duties on school premises. This includes officers certified under state law enforcement chapters, company police officers, and campus police officers. If enacted, this change would become effective on December 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 985 increases the criminal penalty for assaulting a school employee or volunteer in North Carolina. It reclassifies such assaults from a Class A1 misdemeanor to a Class I felony when the incident occurs while the individual is performing their duties or as a result of their duties. The bill broadly defines "school employee or volunteer" to include staff, independent contractors, and adult volunteers involved in school activities. It also protects school personnel from civil or criminal liability for taking reasonable actions to end student fights. Finally, the bill updates supervisor reporting requirements for assaults and prohibits intimidating employees from reporting these incidents.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 272, known as "The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act," allows certain law enforcement, probation/parole, and correctional officers in North Carolina to purchase additional retirement service credit. Officers who hold an advanced law enforcement or corrections certificate and have at least five years of membership service can buy up to four years of creditable service. This purchase applies to members of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System. To do so, they must pay a lump sum covering the full cost of the increased retirement system liability and an administrative fee, with the option for their employer to contribute to this cost.

Maddy summaryHB 939 allows North Carolina public school districts to hire or accept volunteer chaplains, with specific requirements for their employment. School districts must adopt a policy covering certified training (via organizations like the National School Chaplain Association), services provided, continuing education, and discipline procedures. The bill mandates criminal background checks for chaplains before service, reviewed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and shields chaplains from civil liability for normal duties (except gross negligence). It explicitly states that hiring chaplains does not endorse any religion. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 945 requires North Carolina public schools to specify whether incidents of sexual assault, harassment, or other violence occurred on school buses when submitting reports to the State Board of Education. It increases reporting frequency from annual to biannual (at the end of each school quarter) and establishes a Class I felony penalty for school employees or board members who fail to report such incidents. The bill directly affects local school boards, administrators, and staff who must comply with these reporting requirements. The State Board will compile and publish these reports, excluding sensitive minor identifiers, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. This law aims to improve tracking of violence on school buses through standardized reporting and enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 999 establishes a regulatory framework for video gaming terminals in North Carolina, authorizing their operation under the State Lottery Commission. It directly affects licensed businesses (video gaming merchants) holding on- or off-premises ABC permits (e.g., bars, restaurants), requiring them to partner with licensed operators to place terminals. Key provisions include restricting terminals to locations over 1,000 feet from schools/churches, limiting operators to three terminals per location (with potential increases based on revenue), mandating real-time central monitoring, and requiring terminals to be in plain view with surveillance. Revenue from terminals (net machine revenue) allocates 32% to the Commission, with all terminals needing valid permits and compliance with security standards.

Maddy summaryHB 846 provides tuition discounts for children of teachers with significant experience in North Carolina public schools. Specifically, it offers a 50% tuition discount for children of 12-year teachers, a 75% discount for children of 16-year teachers, and full tuition waivers for children of 20-year teachers (defined as teachers with 20+ years of service). The discounts apply to children aged 17-24 enrolled in college, limited to 54 months for bachelor's degrees or program completion. The bill appropriates $2 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund these waivers and requires a report on costs by February 2026. It does not address the broader "retention and recruitment" elements mentioned in the title, as the provided text focuses solely on tuition provisions.