Rep. Stephen Ross

Maddy summaryHB 60 increases Medicaid dental reimbursement rates from 35% to 46% of average dentist charges (2023 rates) to align with neighboring states. The bill allocates $52 million annually from North Carolina's General Fund, matched by $95 million in federal funds, to cover this rate increase starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects dentists who accept Medicaid patients and Medicaid beneficiaries seeking dental care, aiming to boost provider participation and prevent costly emergency treatments. The change addresses years of stagnant rates that reduced dental provider enrollment in Medicaid.

Maddy summaryHB 39 excludes motor vehicles owned by veterans with a 100% disability rating certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from North Carolina property tax. It amends state tax law to add these vehicles as a designated exempt class under G.S. 105-275. The exclusion applies to vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects eligible disabled veterans who own motor vehicles, reducing their property tax burden. The bill does not change eligibility criteria or tax rates for other vehicle classes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs North Carolina's Secretary of State to formally request Congress to call a constitutional convention aimed at imposing term limits on members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The bill specifies that this application will be combined with similar requests from other states to reach the two-thirds threshold required to trigger the convention, while remaining separate from applications for other constitutional changes. It establishes this request as a continuing application that remains active until enough states have submitted identical petitions. Ultimately, the measure does not change any current laws but serves as an official step in the process of potentially amending the U.S. Constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the SHALOM Act, adds a new section to North Carolina law that officially adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism. The law requires state agencies and organizations to use this definition as a guide for training, education, and identifying hate crimes or discrimination against Jewish people. It also establishes a framework for tracking and reporting incidents of antisemitism within the state. The legislation includes a specific provision stating that adopting this definition does not violate free speech rights protected by the U.S. and state constitutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires lodging establishments, vacation rental property managers, and their contractors to complete human trafficking awareness training and display public awareness signs. The Department of Labor will create or select this training in consultation with state agencies and industry groups, ensuring it is free and accessible to staff performing housekeeping, food service, or check-in duties. Employers must keep records of completed training for three years and report suspected trafficking to law enforcement or a national hotline. Violations of these new requirements can result in administrative penalties ranging from $500 for a first offense to $2,000 for subsequent offenses. The legislation also modifies existing laws related to human trafficking and adjusts the definition of a victim under the state's crime victim compensation act.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state constitution to eliminate the literacy test requirement for voting. By removing this specific provision, the legislation ensures that all eligible citizens can vote regardless of their reading or writing abilities. The change directly affects voters who previously might have been disenfranchised by this barrier. It does not alter other voting qualifications or the overall structure of the election process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program in Vance and Granville Counties to help religious institutions better support people with mental health or substance use needs. The program creates a tiered designation system where churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples can earn Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced status by completing specific training, hosting support groups, and providing mental health resources. To receive these designations, participating institutions must update their websites to show their status and ensure their staff and members complete required mental health training. The state agency responsible for mental health services will manage the application process and submit an annual report on the program's progress to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the composition of North Carolina's Medical Cannabis Production Commission to ensure a more diverse range of oversight. It establishes a 13-member body that includes representatives from law enforcement, agriculture, pharmacy, and medicine, alongside industry experts and patient advocates. A specific provision requires industry representatives to recuse themselves from license selection decisions if they have a personal or business connection to an applicant. The amendment also sets new term lengths and expiration dates for these commissioners to structure their service periods.

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 creates a new legal process allowing property owners to request the immediate removal of unauthorized individuals from residential homes by contacting their local sheriff. To use this process, the owner must file a sworn complaint stating that the person is not a tenant or resident, has been asked to leave, and that no valid lease exists, after which the sheriff must act within 24 hours. The legislation also increases penalties for willful damage to residential property and prohibits fraudulent rental advertisements while requiring all leases to be in writing. Property owners who incorrectly use this removal process could face civil lawsuits, including triple damages based on the rent and legal fees.