Rep. Joe Pike

Maddy summaryHB 375 bans the use of deceptive AI-generated videos or audio (deepfakes) in political campaigns within 90 days of an election, unless they include clear disclosures. It requires creators to audibly state "Contains content generated by AI" at the start/end of audio content (and every 2 minutes if longer) and display visible disclosures throughout visual content. The bill directly affects political campaigns and sponsors creating synthetic media during election periods, aiming to prevent voter deception. It also prohibits fabricated intimate images of minors and defines terms like "digital impersonation" to clarify prohibited content. The law focuses on election integrity, not general social media use.

Maddy summaryHB 362 prohibits the intentional release of substances or technologies within North Carolina aimed at altering weather, temperature, or sunlight - including stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), cloud seeding, and electromagnetic emissions. It defines "atmospheric modification" broadly to cover activities affecting climate, agriculture, health, or security, while explicitly excluding licensed pesticide applications by aircraft. The law makes it illegal to intentionally inject or disperse materials for such purposes and directs the Environmental Management Commission to create implementing rules. This bill directly affects entities or individuals conducting weather-altering experiments or technologies within the state. The measure is currently in committee referral after passing its first reading in the North Carolina House.

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 177 requires North Carolina's State Human Resources Commission (SHRC) to review job requirements across state agencies and identify positions where a four-year college degree is unnecessary. The bill directs the SHRC to replace degree requirements with alternative qualifications like military service, apprenticeships, or trade school training where appropriate, and to remove unnecessary degree language from job postings. This policy change directly affects state job applicants who may qualify through non-degree pathways. The SHRC must report annually starting October 2025 on progress toward reducing these barriers.

Maddy summaryHB 164 requires parental or guardian consent before releasing autopsy records for children under 18. It makes all autopsy-related materials - including photos, videos, and reports - confidential, except when disclosure is needed for public health, research, legal compliance, or to address safety concerns. If parents withhold consent, a court may override this through a special proceeding after reviewing factors like public interest and privacy intrusion. The bill also allows public access to autopsy recordings (with supervision) unless parents request confidentiality under this law. It applies to all child deaths under 18 in North Carolina, affecting medical examiners, families, and entities seeking autopsy records.

Maddy summaryHB 167 (North Carolina) prohibits leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle unless the vehicle is locked and the firearm is secured with a trigger lock or stored in a locked container. This law directly affects vehicle owners who store firearms in their cars, making it illegal to leave them unsecured in an unattended vehicle. Violations carry a Class 2 misdemeanor penalty. The bill becomes effective December 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.

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 66 would shorten North Carolina's early voting period by changing the start date from the third Thursday before an election to the second Monday before the election. It specifies that voters may only cast early ballots between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the last Saturday before an election. This bill directly affects voters in North Carolina elections by reducing the window for early in-person voting. The change applies to all elections held on or after the law's effective date. The bill modifies existing voting procedures without altering election administration rules beyond the early voting timeframe.

Maddy summaryHB 46 requires that any new state law creating health benefit mandates (like coverage requirements or provider rules) must also repeal an equal number of existing mandates and include funding for the new mandate. It directly affects North Carolina legislators, employers (especially small businesses), and taxpayers by changing how health insurance rules are added or removed. Key provisions include defining "health benefit mandates" broadly (e.g., coverage requirements, cost-sharing rules) and mandating that new mandates must be paired with both repeal of existing mandates and dedicated funding. The bill applies to future legislation considered by the General Assembly, starting 30 days after enactment, and also updates rules for the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees.

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.