Rep. Pricey Harrison

Maddy summaryHB 197 appropriates $25 million annually for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years to North Carolina's local health departments (LHDs) for communicable disease programs. The funding aims to address a 70% staff shortage in LHDs by enabling them to retain existing staff, hire additional public health professionals (including nurses), and expand essential services. Funds are allocated with half distributed equally among LHDs based on the number of counties served, and half distributed based on the percentage of state population each LHD serves. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, to support North Carolina's response to diseases like avian flu and mpox.

Maddy summaryHB 196 appropriates $1.5 million from the General Fund to the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, Inc., for a new biotechnology exhibit and laboratory. The funds will showcase North Carolina's biotech achievements and promote STEM career interest, directly benefiting the museum and students in the state. The bill creates a specific funding mechanism for this educational project, effective July 1, 2025. As a funding allocation, it does not alter laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 120 appropriates $1,040,514 annually for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to expand North Carolina's Project C.A.R.E. program. The bill directly funds support services for family caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. It provides recurring state funding to the Division of Aging and Adult Services to enhance existing caregiver assistance programs. The legislation becomes effective July 1, 2025, without altering eligibility or service requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 176 allows Kannapolis City Schools to start the school year as early as August 19 (instead of the standard August 26) if they demonstrate "good cause" - specifically, if the district has experienced at least eight emergency closures (due to weather, power outages, etc.) in any four of the past ten years. This exception applies only to Kannapolis for the 2025-2026 school year and does not change state requirements for other North Carolina school districts. The bill requires schools to still meet minimum instructional day requirements, and the change only affects Kannapolis’ calendar, not broader state education rules.

Maddy summaryHB 180 requires North Carolina's legislative and executive branches to collaborate annually on a long-term budget assessment covering at least five years. The bill mandates analyzing how to maintain current services amid inflation and population changes, the cost of new policies or court mandates, employee salary/benefit adjustments, and economic or federal funding shifts. This assessment must directly inform the Governor's annual budget message, which must include a five-year fiscal outlook for new or expanded programs. The law applies to all state budget planning starting with the next fiscal year, affecting how state agencies and the Governor project spending sustainability.

Maddy summaryHB 178 requires North Carolina's state agencies and legislators to make budget-related requests public once the annual budget bill passes, removing previous confidentiality for communications about funding provisions. It mandates a one-week public comment period with an online portal, at least one public hearing, and three nonvoting committee meetings for budget debate before final votes. The bill directly affects state agencies submitting budget requests, legislators receiving those requests, and the public, who gain access to previously confidential budget discussions. Key changes include requiring legislators to receive budget drafts five days before voting and treating all budget-related documents as public records after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 174, the North Carolina Marriage Equality Act, codifies the right to marry for all individuals regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation, directly affecting all residents and couples seeking marriage in the state. The bill adds new sections to state law defining marriage as the union of two consenting individuals and requiring equal treatment under all state and local laws, policies, and regulations for married couples. It also prohibits discrimination in marriage-related services, benefits, or licenses based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation, while repealing prior conflicting statutes. The act becomes effective upon enactment, ensuring consistent legal recognition of marriages without discrimination.

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 179 would allow North Carolina taxpayers to deduct labor union membership dues from their state income tax starting in 2026. The bill creates a new tax deduction for dues, fees, assessments, or other payments required to maintain membership in a labor organization, as defined by state law. This applies specifically to individuals who pay such costs as a condition of union participation. The policy change takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 175 proposes amending North Carolina's constitution to remove the current provision stating "marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union." If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, this change would allow the state to recognize all marriages equally, directly affecting all North Carolinians seeking marriage licenses or legal recognition. The bill requires voter approval via a yes/no ballot question in November 2026, with the amendment taking effect January 1, 2027, if passed. This is a constitutional referendum, not an immediate law, and would replace the existing constitutional language without altering current marriage laws.