Rep. Cecil Brockman

Maddy summaryHB 275 increases penalties for drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way to blind or partially blind pedestrians using a white cane (white or red-tipped) or a guide dog. It requires drivers to come to a full stop, leave a clear path, and remain stopped until the pedestrian has crossed at both uncontrolled intersections and signal-controlled crossings where the pedestrian is already moving when lights change. This bill directly affects drivers operating vehicles in North Carolina and blind/partially blind pedestrians using visible signals. The penalty for violating this law becomes a Class 2 misdemeanor, effective December 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 503, the "Don't Tread on Me Act," proposes new protections for North Carolinians by restricting government overreach in privacy, healthcare, education, and employment. It prohibits state agencies from conducting warrantless surveillance, demanding private medical or political information for services, denying reproductive care based on ideology, interfering with parental decisions without due process, or censoring fact-based education. The bill also bans discrimination in employment, housing, or public services based on private beliefs, medical history, or lawful conduct. Currently in early legislative stages (filed March 24, passed 1st reading March 26), it would take effect if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 497 prohibits defendants in North Carolina from using a victim's sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, or sex as a defense in homicide or assault cases. It bans arguments that the defendant's reaction to discovering or perceiving someone's LGBTQ+ identity justified the crime, whether the belief was true or not. The law applies to all such cases occurring on or after December 1, 2025, and does not affect prosecutions for offenses committed before that date. This changes court procedures by removing a specific legal argument that has been used to reduce charges in some cases involving LGBTQ+ victims.

Maddy summaryHB 500, titled "NC Adopt Equal Rights Amendment," is a resolution by the North Carolina General Assembly to formally ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution. The ERA, proposed by Congress in 1972 and ratified by 38 states (including Virginia in 2020), aims to guarantee equal rights under the law regardless of sex. This bill directs the state to send a certified copy of the ratification to the U.S. Archivist, Congress, and North Carolina’s congressional delegation. It is a procedural act with no direct impact on state law, solely affirming North Carolina’s support for the ERA’s status as the 28th Amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 482 reauthorizes North Carolina's teacher bonus program for 2025-2027, expanding eligibility to include teachers who leave their school due to military orders. It allows qualifying teachers to receive bonuses based on student performance (e.g., AP/IB exam scores or industry certifications) even if they no longer teach at the same school, provided they submit a military transfer notice and updated address by January 1. The bill maintains existing bonus amounts ($50 for advanced courses, $25/$50 for CTE certifications) but adds this military exception to the eligibility criteria. This directly affects public school teachers who separate due to military service but meet other bonus qualifications.

Maddy summaryHB 488 modifies North Carolina's school grading system to separate achievement (current student performance) and growth (improvement over time) scores for all schools. It requires the State Board of Education to assign distinct letter grades (A-F) for both achievement and growth using specific scoring scales (e.g., 85+ for an A in achievement, 90+ for an A in growth). Schools must display both grades prominently on their websites, and parents of students at schools earning a D or F in either category receive written notice. The overall school performance grade combines achievement (80%) and growth (20%) scores on a 100-point scale. This bill directly affects all public schools in North Carolina and their reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 493 creates confidential reporting and resolution procedures for workplace harassment in North Carolina's General Assembly, affecting all legislators, staff (including part-time/temporary employees), volunteers, and pages. It requires mandatory annual training on preventing harassment and discrimination, establishes clear consequences for violations, and mandates a confidential investigation process handled by an independent third party. The bill appropriates $250,000 to fund training materials, infrastructure, and the independent investigator for the 2025-2027 fiscal years. These changes apply to all workplace interactions, including legislative events and business-related activities, with specific disciplinary actions ranging from warnings to expulsion for legislators.

Maddy summaryHB 484 authorizes North Carolina's African American Heritage Commission to study creating monuments and markers honoring the state's civil rights history, including sites related to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, sit-ins, and desegregation efforts. The bill directly affects the Commission, which must hold public hearings and report findings by May 2026, and North Carolinians by commemorating local contributions to the civil rights movement. Key provisions include appropriating $500,000 for the Commission to place markers along the state's Civil Rights Trail and conducting feasibility studies on permanent monuments. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, with funding allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 467 reenacts North Carolina's low-income housing tax credit program, allowing developers to claim tax credits for constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing. It specifies credit percentages (30%, 20%, or 10%) based on the income level of households (50% or less of area median income for 30% credit, 40% for 10% in high-income areas) and the location's income designation (low, moderate, or high-income county/city). Developers can receive credits either as a direct tax refund or a loan from the Housing Finance Agency, with affordability requirements applying for the full credit compliance period. This directly affects developers building qualifying low-income housing projects across North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 184 allows small North Carolina sawmills (those milling under 1 million board feet annually) to sell ungraded lumber directly to homeowners for residential construction. The bill amends building codes to permit this ungraded "dimension lumber" in one- and two-family homes and certain small structures, provided mills meet specific requirements. These include operators holding state-approved lumber grading training certifications, marking lumber with detailed specifications (species, mill ID, PS20 compliance), and providing purchaser certificates. Code officials must review construction for safety compliance (excluding grade-stamp requirements) and are protected from liability for structural issues related to ungraded lumber use. The law aims to support local sawmills while maintaining safety standards through defined labeling, training, and oversight.