Rep. John Blust

Maddy summaryHB 969 directs North Carolina's Legislative Research Commission to study replacing the current "contributory negligence" rule (which bars injury claims if a plaintiff shares any fault) with comparative negligence systems. The study must evaluate how abolition would affect citizens, assess harms from the current rule, analyze fiscal impacts on insurance and businesses, and recommend the best negligence framework. It does not change law immediately but requires a 2026 report with legislative recommendations. This bill affects future legal claims for injury victims and insurers by examining potential policy shifts. The study is the only concrete action; no voting or implementation occurs until after the report.

Maddy summaryHB 1006 proposes amending North Carolina's state constitution to require that all legislative bills address only one subject, with exceptions for general appropriations bills, tax bills, and technical corrections. If approved by voters in the 2026 election, this change would require lawmakers to draft bills with a single, clearly defined topic in their titles. The amendment must be ratified by a majority of voters in the November 2026 general election before taking effect. This is a procedural change affecting how bills are structured, not the content of legislation itself.

Maddy summaryHB 986, "Support Our Teachers," prohibits North Carolina school districts from requiring teachers to post lesson plans or objectives and bans schools from assigning work during teachers' designated lunch breaks. It also mandates that school districts compensate teachers financially for time spent leading professional development sessions for colleagues. The bill directly affects public school teachers and administrators across North Carolina, taking effect for the 2025-2026 school year. These provisions aim to reduce administrative burdens and recognize teachers' time spent in professional roles.

Maddy summaryHB 862 requires district courts to record video and audio of certain felony plea proceedings (including guilty or no contest pleas to serious felonies) and key hearings like sentencing. It also mandates clerks of court to collect detailed data for impaired driving cases (like DUI), including alcohol test results, reasons for case dismissals, and sentencing details. The Administrative Office of the Courts must publish annual online reports showing statewide and county-level data on these cases. These changes apply to cases starting December 1, 2025, increasing transparency in court proceedings and case outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 826, titled "No Retaliation Against Mandatory Reporters," protects employees required by North Carolina law to report suspected abuse, neglect, fraud, or other threats to vulnerable populations (such as child welfare workers, healthcare providers, and sex offender compliance reporters). The bill prohibits employers from taking retaliatory actions like firing, demoting, or reducing pay against these employees for making good-faith reports. Key provisions require employers to inform workers of their rights, provide annual training on reporting duties, and establish a rebuttable presumption of retaliation if adverse actions occur within 60 days of a report. Enforcement is handled by the North Carolina Commissioner of Labor, who can order reinstatement, back pay, or fines up to $5,000 per violation.

Maddy summaryHB 825 prohibits ranked choice voting in all North Carolina elections, including primaries and local board appointments. It shortens the early voting period to a single Saturday (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) before elections and clarifies buffer zones around polling places for election-related activities. The bill also tightens absentee ballot requirements, mandating voters provide specific ID details (like last four SSN digits or driver's license numbers) on request forms, with strict rules for alternative affidavits if physical ID is unavailable. These changes directly affect voters requesting absentee ballots and election administrators managing voting procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 471, the Food Labeling Transparency Act, requires manufacturers of cell-cultured and insect-based food products to clearly label items that use meat or poultry terms (like "beef," "chicken," or "burger") with qualifying terms such as "cell-cultured," "insect-based," or "lab-grown" in prominent, close proximity to the product name. This applies to products that mimic traditional meat or poultry but are made without animal slaughter, directly affecting manufacturers of these alternative protein products. The law mandates this labeling to prevent consumer confusion by ensuring the product’s origin is transparent, with enforcement starting October 1, 2025. It does not restrict the sale of these products but requires specific labeling to distinguish them from conventional meat.

Maddy summaryHB 799 requires North Carolina state and city government workplaces to prohibit 13 specific concepts from training programs and hiring practices, including claims that one race is superior, individuals bear guilt for past group actions, or meritocracy is inherently biased. It bans state job applications from asking about race and prevents agencies from requiring applicants to endorse political or social beliefs as a condition of employment. Violations would be treated as employment discrimination under state law, with enforcement through existing grievance procedures. The bill explicitly excludes First Amendment-protected speech and applies only to state and city government workplaces, not private employers.

Maddy summaryHB 791, the Women's Safety and Protection Act, defines "biological sex" (based on physical characteristics at birth) and "gender" in North Carolina law and mandates that single/multiple occupancy restrooms, changing facilities, and sleeping quarters in state-funded facilities (including public schools, prisons, domestic violence centers, and juvenile facilities) be designated for use by one biological sex at a time. The bill requires facilities to have policies ensuring only one biological sex uses these spaces simultaneously, with exceptions for family use, maintenance, medical emergencies, or safety threats. It specifically prohibits students from sharing sleeping quarters with individuals of another biological sex in public schools unless family members or with parental permission. The law applies to all covered facilities receiving state funds, including public schools and domestic violence centers, and subjects its provisions to "intermediate scrutiny" under constitutional review.

Maddy summaryHB 776, the North Carolina Religious Freedom Restoration Act, requires state and local governments to apply strict scrutiny before restricting religious practices. It protects religious gatherings in places of worship, homes, and neighborhoods from neutral laws or regulations that incidentally burden faith, such as housing rules or emergency orders. The law defines a "burden" as any government action limiting religious exercise (including withholding benefits or imposing penalties) and mandates that such restrictions must serve a compelling government interest through the least restrictive means. It explicitly does not affect constitutional protections against government establishment of religion or alter existing housing nondiscrimination laws.