Rep. Pricey Harrison

Maddy summaryHB 161 restores local government authority to initiate down-zoning in Randolph County and its municipalities without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. The bill amends state law to allow counties or towns to change zoning to reduce development density, limit permitted land uses, or address nonconforming properties - without needing individual property owner approval. This directly affects property owners whose land might be subject to down-zoning changes under Randolph County or municipal zoning rules. The law applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, and takes effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 168, the North Carolina CROWN Act, prohibits employment discrimination based on hair texture or protective hairstyles like braids, locks, or twists. It explicitly adds these characteristics to the definition of "race" under North Carolina's anti-discrimination law, covering all employers and job applicants. The bill also strengthens protections by banning retaliation against employees who report such discrimination. It applies to all public and private employers statewide upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 167 (North Carolina) prohibits leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle unless the vehicle is locked and the firearm is secured with a trigger lock or stored in a locked container. This law directly affects vehicle owners who store firearms in their cars, making it illegal to leave them unsecured in an unattended vehicle. Violations carry a Class 2 misdemeanor penalty. The bill becomes effective December 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 166 creates a legal process for courts to issue Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) that temporarily restrict a person's access to firearms when they pose a danger of harming themselves or others. The bill allows family members, law enforcement, or healthcare providers to petition a court for an ERPO, requiring the court to order the seizure of firearms if the respondent fails to surrender them. It specifically defines "firearm" and outlines procedures for filing petitions, service, and court hearings, with no court costs for petitioners. The law aims to prevent gun-related harm through court-supervised temporary firearm removal, while including safeguards like mandatory mental health evaluations and annual reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 104 allows Buncombe County Schools to adopt an earlier school start date (no earlier than August 19, instead of the standard August 26) if the district meets "good cause" criteria - specifically, if they've had eight or more school closure days annually due to weather or emergencies during four of the last ten years. The bill amends a state law to grant this specific waiver for Buncombe County only, without changing statewide calendar requirements. It applies only to Buncombe County Schools beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and does not alter closing dates or instructional day minimums. This is a targeted local flexibility measure, not a statewide policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 70 allows Hertford County Schools to align their academic calendar with Roanoke-Chowan Community College’s schedule, removing standard state-mandated opening and closing date requirements for this district. The bill amends state law to permit local school boards to match community college calendars for operational coordination, specifically for Hertford County Schools beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. This change directly affects only Hertford County Schools and does not apply to other school districts or alter general calendar rules statewide. The provision is limited to administrative flexibility and does not change instructional day requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 31 would amend North Carolina's State Human Resources Act to make every statewide general election day a paid holiday for state employees. This change would add election days to the current list of paid holidays (which includes Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday and Veterans Day), while maintaining the limit of 13 paid holidays per year. The bill directly affects state workers, ensuring they receive paid time off on election days without reducing the total number of paid holidays. It does not change election dates or voting procedures, only the employment benefits for state employees on those days. The legislation is currently pending in committee review.

Maddy summaryHB 155 allows Wilkes County Schools and Alexander County Schools to adopt an earlier school start date (no earlier than August 19) for the 2025-2026 school year, instead of the standard August 26 date, if they meet specific "good cause" criteria. The bill requires these districts to document having experienced at least eight emergency school closures (due to weather, power failures, etc.) across four of the last ten years. This waiver applies only to these two counties and ensures they can maintain required instructional days while adjusting their calendars. The law takes effect when enacted, applying to the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 145 appropriates $50 million in one-time state funds to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) for the development of a diabetes research institute. This bill directly affects UNC-CH as the recipient of the funds and will support diabetes research activities at the university. The funds are designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and become effective July 1, 2025. The legislation is a straightforward funding allocation with no policy changes beyond the specified financial commitment.

Maddy summaryHB 148 allows Jackson, Swain, and Transylvania County Schools to start the school year earlier than the standard date (as early as August 19 instead of August 26) if they can prove they averaged at least eight weather-related school closures annually over the past decade. The bill specifically targets these three counties and requires them to maintain sufficient instructional days despite the earlier start. It does not change statewide calendar rules but creates a limited exception for qualifying districts based on documented emergency closure history. The change would apply beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.