Rep. John Blust

Maddy summaryHB 949, known as the School Protection Act, proposes to allow specific armed security guards to carry firearms on nonpublic educational property in North Carolina. The bill amends existing law to create an exemption for sworn law enforcement officers who are hired as armed security guards by nonpublic schools and are acting in their official duties on school premises. This includes officers certified under state law enforcement chapters, company police officers, and campus police officers. If enacted, this change would become effective on December 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 985 increases the criminal penalty for assaulting a school employee or volunteer in North Carolina. It reclassifies such assaults from a Class A1 misdemeanor to a Class I felony when the incident occurs while the individual is performing their duties or as a result of their duties. The bill broadly defines "school employee or volunteer" to include staff, independent contractors, and adult volunteers involved in school activities. It also protects school personnel from civil or criminal liability for taking reasonable actions to end student fights. Finally, the bill updates supervisor reporting requirements for assaults and prohibits intimidating employees from reporting these incidents.

Maddy summaryHB 211, "The Kelsey Smith Act," authorizes wireless telecommunications carriers to provide a device's location information to law enforcement under specific emergency circumstances. This includes situations where a 911 call was made or there is reasonable suspicion of an emergency involving risk of death or serious physical harm. Wireless carriers are required to submit their emergency contact information to the State Bureau of Investigation, which will maintain a database for public safety answering points. The bill protects carriers from legal action if they provide this information in good faith.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 272, known as "The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act," allows certain law enforcement, probation/parole, and correctional officers in North Carolina to purchase additional retirement service credit. Officers who hold an advanced law enforcement or corrections certificate and have at least five years of membership service can buy up to four years of creditable service. This purchase applies to members of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System. To do so, they must pay a lump sum covering the full cost of the increased retirement system liability and an administrative fee, with the option for their employer to contribute to this cost.

Maddy summaryHB 899 repeals laws that made North Carolina's Office of State Fire Marshal an independent agency and transfers its oversight to the Commissioner of the Department of Insurance. The bill ensures current employees, fire department identification numbers, and existing rules will continue under the Commissioner's authority until amended by the Commissioner or changed by the General Assembly. These changes take effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 919 prohibits banks and other financial institutions from denying services or discriminating based on protected characteristics like political views, religious beliefs (unless for religious purposes), or social credit scores tied to lawful activities (e.g., firearm ownership, energy use, or environmental compliance). It bans using subjective criteria without full disclosure to customers and requires annual compliance reports under penalty of perjury. Financial institutions must also avoid discriminatory pricing based on environmental, social, or governance factors unless justified by actuarial standards. Individuals harmed by violations can pursue legal action for damages or injunctions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies North Carolina law to change how confidential legislators' documents are handled. It requires legislators to serve as custodians for all documents they receive or create while in office, but allows specific exceptions where these documents must be disclosed. The exceptions include federal grand jury subpoenas, requests from investigative authorities, correspondence about state funding for businesses and nonprofits, communications with lobbyists, staff compensation records, and correspondence with state agencies regarding business interests. The law applies to both current and former legislators and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 916 strengthens North Carolina's Do Not Call and Do Not Text Registry by requiring telemarketers to remove registered numbers from their contact lists within 30 business days when a resident requests no further calls, reducing the previous timeframe from 60 days. It directly affects North Carolina residents who have registered their phone numbers and telemarketers operating in the state, including partner companies. Key provisions include clarifying that "telephone solicitation" covers text messages and automated calls, and holding companies jointly liable if they accept sales leads generated by illegal telemarketing calls. The bill updates state law to align with federal telemarketing rules and enforce stricter compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 967 clarifies that voting places during voting hours are explicitly included as "public buildings" under North Carolina's disorderly conduct law (G.S. 14-132). This means actions like making loud disturbances, vandalism, or creating nuisances at polling locations during voting hours would now be covered by the misdemeanor statute. The bill directly affects voters, election workers, and anyone engaging in conduct near polling sites during official voting hours. It expands existing disorderly conduct protections to specifically cover voting places, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 966, the College Cost Reduction Act, prohibits all University of North Carolina (UNC) schools from requiring students to pay extra for mandatory course software (Learning Management Systems or LMS). It directly affects UNC students by banning any requirement for paid LMS access beyond existing, approved student fees. The bill mandates the UNC Board of Governors to create a policy ensuring professors or courses cannot force students to pay for LMS services - only free or fee-covered options may be required. The rule takes effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.