Rep. Joe Pike

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment in North Carolina to allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms openly or concealed without needing a permit. The change would apply to any U.S. citizen who has not been convicted of a violent crime or drug offense and has not been declared mentally incompetent, unless they are on property that is legally posted against carrying weapons. While the amendment removes the requirement for a permit, it states that a permit system will still be maintained to help with reciprocity with other states and to facilitate purchasing weapons. The bill does not take effect immediately but must be approved by voters in a referendum scheduled for the November 3, 2026, general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program to provide free hyperbaric oxygen therapy to North Carolina veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury or posttraumatic stress disorder. The legislation appropriates $3 million from the state General Fund to a nonprofit organization to deliver approximately 15,000 treatments to an estimated 350 eligible veterans over the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The program includes structured clinical care and requires the provider to submit a detailed report on outcomes and fund usage by June 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the cost for North Carolina public school teachers to purchase credit for their military service. Under the new provision, eligible veterans would only need to pay 25% of the usual cost, while the state would cover the remaining 75% through general appropriations. The law applies to full-time employees of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and allows them to buy up to four years of service credit. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2027, for any service credit purchases made on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $35 million in recurring state funds to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency for the Workforce Housing Loan Program. The funding is designated to support the program's operations and loans for eligible workforce members seeking affordable housing. These funds will become available starting with the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1091, known as the DWI Modernization Act of 2026, updates North Carolina laws regarding impaired driving to improve enforcement, increase penalties, and provide clearer procedures for drivers. The bill requires magistrates to provide written explanations when dismissing DWI charges, ensuring officers must justify their probable cause decisions based on specific test results and observations. It also adjusts fees for license restoration, increases fines for repeat offenders, and mandates that transportation network drivers meet the same sobriety standards as commercial bus drivers. Additionally, the legislation makes it a felony for adults to help minors obtain alcohol if that minor causes serious injury, while also clarifying the immediate revocation process for drivers who refuse chemical tests.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill appropriates $11.5 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to improve state government services and workforce programs. The Department of Information Technology will receive $11.5 million to create an artificial intelligence assistant that helps users navigate state agency websites and connects them with local workforce resources. Additionally, the Department of Commerce will get $20 million to fund local boards in designing job training programs specifically for veterans and individuals reentering society after incarceration. A separate $1.5 million allocation supports career planning tools for working adults. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new loan program in North Carolina to help nonprofit organizations prepare land for affordable housing by offering below-market interest rate loans. The funds, totaling $50 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, can only be used for site-related expenses like land acquisition, utility installation, and environmental testing, but not for building the actual homes. To qualify, borrowers must be experienced nonprofits that provide zero-interest mortgages to buyers and ensure at least 40% of units in mixed-income projects are reserved for low- and moderate-income families. The program is designed to support the development of housing for households earning up to 80% of the local area median income.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program in North Carolina that requires individuals convicted of domestic violence to register on a public list if they have at least one prior domestic violence conviction. The State Bureau of Investigation will maintain this registry, which will include the offender's name, date of birth, conviction details, and a photograph, while keeping addresses and social security numbers private. Registration periods last two years for one prior offense, five years for two prior offenses, and ten years for three or more prior offenses, with fees of $150 paid by the offender to cover registry costs. The law takes effect on December 1, 2026, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date, though prior convictions do not need to have occurred by then.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Curriculum Honesty, Compliance, and Child Safety Act, establishes new rules for North Carolina public schools regarding parental rights and curriculum content. It requires schools to obtain parental consent before changing a student's name or gender designation in records and mandates that parents be notified before their child receives counseling related to sexuality or gender identity. Additionally, the legislation prohibits any instruction on gender identity or sexual activity in grades kindergarten through fourth grade, with exceptions only for answering student-initiated questions. The bill also creates mechanisms for enforcement, allowing parents to sue schools for violations and authorizing state auditors to investigate noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the authority for North Carolina counties to collect a one percent local sales tax on groceries, effectively exempting food from these local taxes. By removing the option for voters to approve this specific tax, the legislation directly affects county governments and consumers who currently pay this surcharge on food purchases. The change applies to sales made on or after October 1, 2026, and does not alter the existing state sales tax rules.