Rep. Amanda Cook

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal pathway in North Carolina allowing individuals to sue anyone, including federal officials, for violating their rights under the U.S. Constitution. It establishes a civil cause of action that permits victims to seek monetary compensation, court orders to stop the violation, and payment for legal fees. The law explicitly states that it does not allow lawsuits against the state itself or waive the state's immunity from being sued. Additionally, the bill appropriates $150,000 to fund public education efforts about these new rights, with the main provisions taking effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits gambling on prediction markets in North Carolina by amending state gambling laws to explicitly include these platforms. It defines a prediction market as any online or physical platform where people bet money on the outcome of future events, making such activities a Class 2 misdemeanor for operators and participants. The law applies to both residents and non-residents offering services to North Carolina users and takes effect on December 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill allocates $10,000 in state funds to the State Lottery Commission to support enforcement efforts starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $200 million in recurring state funds to expand access to the North Carolina Pre-K program for all income-eligible four-year-olds. The additional money is directed to the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure these children can participate in the program starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and does not alter existing eligibility criteria or program requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1178, known as the NC Teacher Pay Competitiveness Act, establishes a permanent salary increase plan for public school teachers in North Carolina to help the state compete with neighboring regions. The bill creates a new salary schedule that begins in the 2026-2027 school year and mandates annual raises of 3.67% until 2033, after which increases will be tied to federal employment cost data. Additionally, the legislation provides specific monthly bonuses for teachers with advanced certifications or degrees and adjusts funding for the Opportunity Scholarship program.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in North Carolina through three main changes. It mandates a minimum wage increase of $18 per hour for direct care workers by raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for providers and facilities, with funds appropriated starting in fiscal year 2026-2027. Additionally, the legislation adds at least 1,000 slots to the state's Medicaid waiver program and requires the creation of a ten-year plan to address unmet service needs. Finally, it seeks to remove income and asset limits for the state's Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities, allowing more individuals to qualify for coverage regardless of their earnings or savings.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises child care subsidy rates in North Carolina to the 75th percentile of market costs, directly benefiting low-income families who use state-funded care. Starting in July 2026, the state will automatically update these rates based on future market studies and establish a minimum payment floor for providers in counties where local rates are lower. The legislation appropriates $60 million from the General Fund and $20 million from federal grants to cover the initial increase, with an additional $160 million allocated to maintain the statewide rate floor. While most counties will adopt the new statewide standard, areas with very few children in specific age groups may keep their current rates if the state rate would be too low to secure care for eligible families.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill appropriates approximately $1.3 million from the state's General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds are designated to expand access to Teen Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training programs across the state. These training courses are designed to teach high school students how to recognize signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their peers and connect them with support. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1141 allocates over one billion dollars in state funding to adjust Medicaid payments for North Carolina starting in 2025, ensuring the program can cover rising costs and new services. The bill also permits Medicaid managed care plans to create exclusive networks of providers specifically for research-based behavioral health treatments, while requiring all other essential services to remain available to all providers in the area. Additionally, the legislation removes specific rules that could cause people enrolled in Medicaid expansion to lose their coverage, thereby stabilizing access to care for this population.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the amount low-income families must pay for state-subsidized child care in North Carolina starting in October 2026. It lowers the required parent contribution from 10% of gross family income to 7%, with specific adjustments for part-time and blended-rate care. To fund this reduction, the state will allocate $25 million from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to families currently participating in the child care subsidy program.

Maddy summaryHB 1133 aims to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions in North Carolina through three main actions. First, it establishes a temporary committee to study the physical condition of HBCU buildings, including safety risks, age, and maintenance needs, with a report due in early 2027. Second, it creates a permanent financial aid program for students at specific UNC constituent institutions, providing up to $1,000 per year to help cover costs for those who need financial assistance to graduate on time. Third, the bill allocates nonrecurring funds in the 2026-2027 fiscal year for specific infrastructure repairs and renovations at Winston-Salem State University.