Rep. Dennis Riddell

Maddy summaryHB 142 requires North Carolina state agencies to adopt zero-based budgeting for the 2031-2033 fiscal biennium, starting with a phased implementation beginning July 1, 2027. This means agencies must justify every funding request from scratch each budget cycle - starting with a $0 baseline - rather than carrying over previous appropriations. Agencies must submit detailed justifications for each budget item, including explanations of their functions, performance data, and goals. The bill directly affects all state agencies in the executive branch, requiring them to re-evaluate all programs and costs annually. The full zero-based budget will apply to the entire state budget starting in 2031-2033.

Maddy summaryHB 222 appropriates $217 million from the State Emergency Response Fund to North Carolina's Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) for homeowner recovery projects related to Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. The bill requires NCORR to submit detailed monthly reports on fund usage, including expenditures and project progress, and mandates weekly financial reports to the State Auditor for oversight. It also establishes a public online dashboard tracking funds versus actual spending and includes a clawback provision to return unused funds to the Savings Reserve after projects conclude. The law revises NCORR's responsibilities, ending its role in future storm recovery programs.

Maddy summaryHB 265 allows Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) to align its academic calendar with the schedule of local community colleges, removing the requirement that CMS follow the standard August 26 opening date and June 11 closing date. The bill directly affects CMS, enabling it to coordinate school terms with community college calendars for better scheduling flexibility. Key provisions include waiving the standard date rules for CMS while requiring compliance with minimum instructional day requirements. This change applies only to CMS and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHJR 157 is a procedural resolution inviting Governor Josh Stein to address a joint session of the North Carolina General Assembly on March 12, 2025. It directs a committee of five House members and five Senate members to extend the invitation and specifies that the governor's cabinet, Council of State members, and state judges may attend. This resolution does not create new policy or affect any laws; it solely schedules a ceremonial address. The invitation is effective upon ratification, as noted in the resolution's text.

Maddy summaryHB 130 establishes a $475 million program to provide financial assistance to North Carolina farmers who suffered crop losses from natural disasters in 2024. It directly affects farmers in counties designated by the USDA as disaster areas, requiring verified losses of eligible agricultural commodities (like crops, livestock, or specialty plants) planted but not harvested by January 1, 2024. The program uses county and state yield/price averages to calculate payments, mandates submission of USDA Form 578 or equivalent documentation within 30 days, and allocates funds from state reserves (Stabilization, IT, and Economic Development) to cover verified losses. Farmers must provide documentation for verification, and the Department of Agriculture may audit claims to ensure proper use of funds, with refunds required for inaccurate information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Lincoln County Schools and Iredell-Statesville Schools to implement a mandatory 14-day winter break with no instructional days or teacher workdays scheduled. It amends school calendar rules to mandate this break starting in December, while allowing districts to make up weather-related closures during this period if needed. The law applies specifically to these two school systems beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and does not affect other North Carolina schools. It focuses solely on adjusting winter break requirements and opening/closing dates for these districts.

Maddy summaryHB 194 allows Asheville City Schools to adopt an earlier start date (as early as August 19) for the 2025-2026 school year, instead of the standard August 26 requirement, if the school district demonstrates "good cause" through documented severe weather or emergency closures over the past decade. The bill requires Asheville to maintain the minimum required instructional days while adjusting the calendar, but does not change the standard end date (June 11). It applies exclusively to Asheville City Schools and is effective for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a targeted policy change for Asheville's specific operational needs, not a statewide rule.

Maddy summaryHB 205 allows Cabarrus County Schools to set an earlier student start date (no earlier than August 19, instead of the standard August 26) for the 2025-2026 school year, provided the district meets specific "good cause" criteria. This requires demonstrating that schools in the county experienced at least eight emergency closures (due to weather, power outages, etc.) over four of the past ten years. The bill maintains the requirement for sufficient instructional days and applies only to Cabarrus County Schools, not other districts. It becomes effective upon enactment for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 200 allows Pender County Schools to align their academic calendar with Cape Fear Community College's schedule, instead of following North Carolina's standard requirement for schools to open no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26. This exception applies exclusively to Pender County Schools and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill modifies existing law to permit this calendar alignment without requiring a "good cause" waiver for weather or emergencies. It does not change calendar rules for any other school districts in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 191 grants Durham County and Person County Schools flexibility in setting their 2025-2026 school calendar start date, allowing them to open as early as August 19 (instead of the usual August 26) if they have documented emergency closures (8+ days per year for 4 of the last 10 years). It also permits these districts to administer standardized assessments earlier if their fall semester ends before December 31. The bill modifies existing state requirements for school opening/closing dates and assessment timing specifically for these two counties. The changes apply only to the 2025-2026 school year and require documented emergency closure history to qualify for the earlier start date.