Rep. Pricey Harrison

Maddy summaryHB 181 reinstates North Carolina's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working families with children, providing a state tax credit equal to 5% of the federal EITC amount. The credit is refundable, meaning eligible families receive cash payments even if they owe no state tax, directly benefiting low-to-moderate income households struggling with housing, childcare, and basic living costs. It applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, and aligns with federal EITC eligibility criteria. The bill reenacts the credit after its prior expiration, creating a concrete policy change to supplement family income.

Maddy summaryHB 119 allows Pitt County schools to open as early as August 10 (instead of the standard August 26) for the 2025-2026 school year, provided they meet "good cause" requirements. "Good cause" means the county experienced eight weather-related or emergency school closures over four of the last ten years. The bill applies exclusively to Pitt County schools and does not change closing dates or instructional day requirements. It modifies existing state law to provide targeted calendar flexibility for this specific district.

Maddy summaryHB 27 allows Alamance-Burlington 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 averaged 8 emergency closures per year over four of the last ten years due to weather, power outages, or other emergencies. The bill modifies existing law to grant this flexibility while requiring schools to still meet minimum instructional day requirements. It applies exclusively to Alamance-Burlington Schools and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The change does not affect schools already operating under a modified calendar.

Maddy summaryHB 30 grants Winston-Salem/Forsyth, Stokes, and Davidson County Schools additional flexibility to set their school calendar opening date as early as August 19 (instead of the standard August 26) if they demonstrate "good cause" through documented emergency closures (8+ days in 4 of the last 10 years). It also allows these districts to administer annual student assessments earlier if their fall semester ends before December 31. The bill modifies existing calendar rules under state law and applies only to these three school systems beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. These changes aim to accommodate emergency-related school closures while ensuring minimum instructional requirements are met.

Maddy summaryHB 111 grants Chatham County Schools flexibility to set an earlier school start date (as early as August 19) and adjust assessment timing. It allows the district to open before the standard August 26 date if they demonstrate "good cause" (eight or more emergency closures in four of the last ten years due to weather or other emergencies). The bill also permits administering annual assessments earlier if the fall semester ends before December 31. These changes apply only to Chatham County Schools beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill modifies existing education statutes to create this specific exception for the county.

Maddy summaryHB 51 grants Caswell County Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and Orange County Schools flexibility to set their own school calendars, including aligning with local community college schedules. It modifies state requirements that typically mandate school openings no earlier than August 26 and closings no later than June 11, allowing these districts to adjust dates based on community college calendars. The bill also permits these schools to administer student assessments earlier in the semester if their fall semester ends before December 31, rather than waiting for the usual final instructional days. This policy change applies only to the specified districts starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 33 allows Yadkin County Schools and Davie County Schools to align their academic calendars with Surry County Community College or Davidson-Davie Community College. This bill amends state law to explicitly permit these two school districts to match community college schedules, overriding standard state-mandated opening (no earlier than August 26) and closing (no later than June 11) dates. The change applies only to these specific school systems and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill does not alter general calendar requirements for other North Carolina school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 158 allows Warren County Schools, Weldon City Schools, Halifax County Schools, and Roanoke Rapids Graded School District to set an earlier school start date (as early as August 19) for the 2025-2026 school year, instead of the standard August 26 date. This flexibility applies only if the district demonstrates "good cause" by showing at least eight school closure days per year over the last decade due to weather, power failures, or emergencies. The bill amends state law to waive the standard opening date requirement for these specific districts while maintaining minimum instructional day requirements. It does not change closing dates or apply to other school districts in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 170 restores local government authority to initiate down-zoning in Union County and its municipalities without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. The bill specifically targets zoning changes that reduce development density or limit permitted land uses (e.g., making areas less dense or restricting building types). It applies only to Union County and its municipalities, with retroactive effect to December 11, 2024, meaning existing down-zoning actions since that date are treated as if they followed the pre-2024-57 rules. This changes the current requirement (from S.L. 2024-57) that mandated owner consent for all down-zoning amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 172 allows Camden County Schools to begin the academic year as early as the Monday closest to August 19 (instead of August 26) if the district demonstrates "good cause" through documented school closures (eight days per year over four of the last ten years) due to weather, power failures, or other emergencies. The bill amends state law to permit this calendar adjustment while ensuring schools still meet required instructional days. It applies exclusively to Camden County Schools and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The change does not affect other schools with existing modified calendars.