Rep. Joe Pike

Maddy summaryHB 775 requires background checks for three groups: initial members of charter school boards, new educator license applicants, and public school employees applying for positions. It mandates that applicants pay for criminal history checks through the State Bureau of Investigation before receiving approval for charter school board membership, educator licensure, or school employment. The State Board of Education and charter school Review Board review the results to determine if individuals pose safety risks or lack integrity, with decisions requiring written findings. This bill consolidates existing background check requirements into a single process for these school-related positions, applying only to new applicants and initial board members.

Maddy summaryHB 118 modifies North Carolina's property tax exemption for disabled veterans, replacing a flat $45,000 exclusion with a percentage-based system tied to the veteran's VA disability rating. It directly affects veterans with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating (or surviving spouses under specific conditions), allowing them to exclude a portion of their home's appraised value from property taxes - equal to their disability percentage. For example, a veteran with a 70% disability rating would exclude 70% of their home's value from taxes. The bill takes effect for taxes due in 2025 and prohibits combining this relief with other property tax exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises North Carolina's burglary and breaking-and-entering laws to increase penalties when a firearm or deadly weapon is used. It raises the felony classification by one level for offenses like burglary (first/second degree), breaking out of a dwelling at night, or entering a building with intent to commit a felony or terrorize occupants, if a weapon was present during the crime. The law directly affects individuals convicted of these specific offenses when a firearm was involved, not the general public. It does not change sentencing for weapon-free offenses or address police pay, despite the title "Back the Blue Pay Act" suggesting otherwise. The changes take effect December 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThe bill title "Defund Planned Parenthood and Cost Transparency" does not match the actual content of HB 192, which is focused on education funding. This bill raises teacher salaries for the 2025-2026 school year using a new salary schedule (e.g., $5,000 for 0 years experience, $6,823 for 25+ years) and reinstates education-based supplements for advanced degrees ($126-$253 monthly). It appropriates $1.597 billion for salary increases and $8 million for supplements, while directing the North Carolina Collaboratory to study a student-based funding system by February 2026. The bill directly affects public school teachers, instructional support staff, and school psychologists. The title appears to be incorrect based on the provided bill text.

Maddy summaryHB 193 would allow certain employees and volunteers at nonpublic schools (including private/religious schools) to carry firearms or stun guns on school property if authorized by the school board, trained in gun safety, and following written school policies. It also permits concealed handgun carry on school grounds only when attending religious services or ceremonies at affiliated places of worship (e.g., churches), outside school hours or during designated events. The bill increases penalties for assaulting elected officials or law enforcement officers and requires judges - not prosecutors - to set pretrial release conditions for such offenses. Currently withdrawn from committee after a first reading, this bill has not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 992 creates a new foreclosure process for timeshare owners in North Carolina who fall behind on assessments. It requires managing entities to provide a 30-day written notice detailing delinquency amounts before denying timeshare use or canceling reservations. The bill allows managing entities to rent out the delinquent owner's timeshare to cover unpaid assessments, applying rental proceeds toward the debt while requiring reasonable efforts to secure rentals. It also establishes a lien on the timeshare for unpaid assessments from the due date. The bill additionally references changes to paternity procedures for children born out of wedlock, though specific details on this provision are not provided in the text.

Maddy summaryHB 959 requires North Carolina public schools to adopt internet safety policies by January 2026, limiting student access to age-appropriate content and blocking social media except for teacher-directed educational use. It mandates annual social media literacy instruction in all grades, covering mental health impacts, misinformation, online safety, and identifying cyberbullying. The bill also establishes rules for wireless device use during class, prohibiting personal device use except for educational purposes, medical needs, or special education plans. These provisions directly affect all K-12 public schools and students across North Carolina, with policies to be implemented starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 150 allows certain educational organizations to quickly obtain unused federal equipment and property for educational use. It specifically exempts qualifying nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) groups focused on education) from standard state transfer rules when acquiring such items directly from federal agencies. The bill removes barriers in existing law that previously required these organizations to follow lengthy processes for federal surplus materials. This change applies only to property used for educational purposes, not for resale or other commercial activities. The bill does not alter federal acquisition rules but streamlines the state-level process for eligible schools and nonprofits.

Maddy summaryHB 485 requires North Carolina's Medicaid agency to request federal approval to extend Medicaid coverage for personal care services to adults living in licensed adult care homes who earn more than the current State-County Special Assistance income limit but stay below 180-200% of the federal poverty level. The bill specifically targets individuals who would qualify for lower-income Medicaid assistance if not for their higher earnings. Before implementing this coverage, the agency must submit a CMS request meeting three conditions: covering the specified income group, ensuring cost savings offset new expenses, and complying with legal requirements. This bill does not immediately change coverage - it only authorizes a federal request, pending CMS approval.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 379 is an application from the State of North Carolina to the U.S. Congress. It requests that Congress call a "convention of the states" as outlined in Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The purpose of this convention would be to propose new amendments to the Constitution. These amendments would focus on imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting its power, and setting term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. This application is considered ongoing until two-thirds of the states submit similar requests.