Rep. Pricey Harrison

Maddy summaryThis bill adds the drug tianeptine to North Carolina's list of Schedule II controlled substances, meaning it will be regulated similarly to other opioids. By making this change, the law aims to increase oversight of the drug, which is already associated with potential for abuse and severe dependence. The new rules will apply to anyone who commits offenses involving tianeptine on or after September 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for companies in North Carolina that boot or tow vehicles from private property without the owner's consent. It requires these businesses to obtain an annual permit and maintain a public database that logs details about each tow, including the reason for removal and the fees charged. Private property owners must display specific signs at parking lot entrances listing the towing company's contact information and fees before any vehicle can be removed. The legislation also sets limits on how far a towed vehicle can be transported and prohibits booting cars that are currently occupied. Additionally, it clarifies that residential properties with four or fewer units are exempt from the mandatory signage requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Physician Assistant Licensure Compact in North Carolina to make it easier for licensed PAs to practice across different states. Under the new rules, a PA holding a valid license in one participating state can obtain a temporary privilege to work in another participating state without applying for a full new license. The system requires PAs to follow the laws of the state where the patient is located and allows state boards to discipline practitioners who move between states. Additionally, the compact includes specific provisions to help active-duty military personnel and their spouses obtain practice privileges quickly when relocating.

Maddy summaryHB 1042 establishes a reimbursement program in North Carolina to help cover veterinary expenses for retired law enforcement and correctional dogs. To qualify, the dogs must have served in official capacities such as detection, apprehension, or search and rescue and hold certification from a national organization. Owners can apply for up to $1,500 annually for essential care like check-ups, vaccinations, emergency surgeries, and euthanasia, but not for elective procedures. The Department of Public Safety will manage a dedicated fund, initially seeded with $300,000, to process these claims and maintain records. The law applies to dogs retiring on or after July 1, 2024, and allows owners to participate voluntarily without affecting any other existing benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1029 allows patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access custom-made investigational drugs, biological products, or devices that are tailored to their specific genetic profiles. To qualify, a patient must consult with a treating physician, confirm that standard FDA-approved treatments are unlikely to help, and provide written informed consent acknowledging the risks and potential costs. The bill permits manufacturers to offer these treatments for free or at the patient's expense while explicitly stating that health insurance plans are not required to cover these costs. Additionally, the legislation protects doctors from disciplinary action for recommending such treatments and ensures that a patient's heirs are not held financially responsible for any outstanding debts related to the therapy if the patient passes away.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill requires health insurance plans sold in the state to cover transcranial magnetic stimulation services without denying, reducing, or limiting reimbursement for properly submitted claims. It specifically protects licensed healthcare providers from being penalized based on their medical specialty when submitting these claims. To support this change, the state will allocate one million dollars to the North Carolina State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees to ensure compliance. The law takes effect on October 1, 2024, for new, renewed, or amended insurance contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory to conduct a study on how proposed changes to the county tier designation system would affect the state's 100 counties. The study will examine potential adjustments to the criteria for ranking counties, the method used to assign tiers, and the timeline for these rankings. It will also assess how these changes impact state programs, business operations, and the accuracy of identifying distressed areas using current data. Funded with $100,000, the Collaboratory must submit a preliminary report by December 31, 2024, and a final report by December 1, 2025, to legislative oversight committees.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill establishes a legal mechanism to hold manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) financially responsible for cleaning up contaminated drinking water. It defines "responsible parties" as companies that produce PFAS chemicals and orders them to pay for the actual costs public water systems incur to remove or fix contamination that exceeds safety limits. If a manufacturer refuses to pay, the state can take legal action in court to enforce the order, and the bill allows water systems to lower future customer rates if they recover these costs. The legislation also creates a special fund with initial funding to support implementation and requires the state to report annually on how these funds and enforcement orders are used.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the North Carolina Constitution to guarantee the public's right to access government records and attend public meetings. It declares that public records belong to the people and mandates that records and meetings for all state and local government branches be open for inspection and duplication. The amendment allows restrictions on this access only if the government can prove a compelling public interest exists and that the restriction is narrowly tailored to protect that interest. If voters approve this change in the November 2024 election, it will become part of the state constitution immediately upon certification.

Maddy summaryHB 935 reorganizes the Advisory Council on Rare Diseases in North Carolina by moving it from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill establishes a 19-member council composed of physicians, researchers, patient advocates, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to advise state leaders on rare disease research, diagnosis, treatment, and education. Key provisions include setting specific term lengths for members, providing administrative support and funding for the council's operations, and requiring annual reports on council activities and recommendations.