Rep. John Blust

Maddy summaryHB 470, "The Second Amendment Protection Act," prohibits North Carolina state officials and employees from enforcing federal firearms laws within the state. It specifically bans state law enforcement, government employees, and political subdivisions from assisting in the enforcement of any federal rules, regulations, or statutes related to firearms, accessories, or ammunition. The bill states that such federal laws exceed constitutional authority under the Tenth Amendment and that North Carolina retains full power to regulate firearms under its own laws. It does not change North Carolina's existing firearm regulations but blocks state resources from being used to implement federal gun control measures. The act applies directly to all state and local government employees who might otherwise assist in federal gun law enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 186, the "Stars and Stripes Commitment Act," requires all North Carolina public schools (including charter, regional, and laboratory schools) to schedule the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance within one hour of the start of the instructional day. It also mandates that schools display U.S. and North Carolina flags in classrooms when available and provide age-appropriate instruction about the flag and pledge’s meaning. The bill applies to all school governing bodies and state education board meetings, requiring the pledge to open each meeting. Crucially, it explicitly states the policy does not compel anyone to stand, salute, or recite the pledge. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 37 standardizes monthly pension benefits for North Carolina firefighters and rescue squad workers under the state pension fund. It sets a uniform $175 monthly pension for members with 20+ years of service who reach age 55, replaces the previous $180 amount, and maintains $175 for disability benefits and line-of-duty death benefits. The bill also allows members affected by city annexations or department closures to continue contributing $15 monthly until they reach 20 years of service for pension eligibility. These changes apply to current and future members of the pension fund who meet the service requirements. The bill does not alter contribution rates or eligibility for most members but adjusts benefit amounts and extends certain provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 35 designates November of each year as Military Appreciation Month in North Carolina. The bill creates a symbolic recognition within state law, honoring military service members and veterans during this month. It does not establish new programs, funding, or requirements - it simply formally names November for this purpose. The bill affects the state government's official calendar and public recognition efforts, with no direct impact on individuals or organizations.

Maddy summaryHB 62, the Farmers Protection Act, prohibits banks from denying or canceling financial services to farmers based on their greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer use, or machinery type. It creates a rebuttable presumption that banks violating this rule are acting on ESG (environmental, social, governance) commitments, requiring banks to prove decisions were financially motivated. Banks must annually attest to compliance under penalty of perjury, and violations may result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per incident. The law directly affects farmers, banks, credit unions, and state financial associations by restricting discriminatory lending practices tied to environmental factors.

Maddy summaryHB 375 bans the use of deceptive AI-generated videos or audio (deepfakes) in political campaigns within 90 days of an election, unless they include clear disclosures. It requires creators to audibly state "Contains content generated by AI" at the start/end of audio content (and every 2 minutes if longer) and display visible disclosures throughout visual content. The bill directly affects political campaigns and sponsors creating synthetic media during election periods, aiming to prevent voter deception. It also prohibits fabricated intimate images of minors and defines terms like "digital impersonation" to clarify prohibited content. The law focuses on election integrity, not general social media use.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $8.3 million in state funds to Guilford County Schools for the 2025-2026 school year to support two specific academic programs. $5 million will fund high-dosage tutoring by hiring additional tutors, expanding subject areas, and increasing session availability. $3.3 million will support learning hubs that provide personalized academic assistance to students at risk of not graduating, helping them complete required coursework. The funding directly targets Guilford County Schools students and aims to strengthen academic support and graduation outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 324 appropriates $800,000 from the Highway Fund to the Greensboro Transit Agency for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds are specifically allocated to $500,000 for the North/South Crossmax Orange Bus Route and $300,000 to launch a pilot program transporting high school juniors and seniors to Guilford Technical Community College campuses. This bill directly affects Greensboro Transit Agency operations and Guilford County high school students participating in the college transportation pilot. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 314 creates a faster legal process for property owners (or their authorized representatives) to remove people occupying their residential property without legal right, excluding tenants who have overstayed their lease. To use this process, the owner must file a sworn affidavit with the clerk of court (paying a $25 fee) proving the occupant entered unlawfully after the owner acquired the property, was told to leave, paid no rent, and isn’t a tenant. Law enforcement must remove the occupant within 24 hours of receiving the affidavit, with the owner able to change locks afterward. The bill specifically excludes occupants with valid leases or rental agreements and requires proof that no other legal agreement or payment exists.

Maddy summaryHB 2 requires North Carolina public high schools to accept cash for admission to interscholastic athletic events and provide free entry to seniors with a Tar Heel Card (issued by the Department of Health and Human Services). It directly affects students, families, and seniors attending high school sports events by changing payment rules for admission fees. The bill mandates that schools must accept cash at the gate and honor Tar Heel Cards for free admission upon presentation. These requirements apply starting the 2025-2026 school year. The law amends state education rules governing athletic activity fees.