Rep. Sarah Crawford

Maddy summaryHB 322 modifies North Carolina's public records law to require the General Assembly to follow the same record retention and disposal rules as other state agencies. It mandates that legislative records must be preserved for at least 10 years after a legislator leaves office (or until they have no further official use, whichever is longer) and requires the Legislative Services Officer to work with the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to create an inventory of these records. The bill repeals previous exemptions that allowed the General Assembly to unilaterally control its own records and ensures these records are subject to public access standards. This directly affects North Carolina legislators, their offices, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which will oversee record preservation and public access.

Maddy summaryHB 325 establishes a two-year pilot program (2025-2026 and 2026-2027) to fund public school field trips to North Carolina's Legislative Building. It provides up to $2,000 per school for transportation costs (bus rental, fuel, driver pay) to participating schools, prioritizing those in counties designated as "Tier 1" under state law. The program is funded with $1.5 million annually from the General Fund, requiring schools to submit budget applications by October 1 and reporting usage to the legislature by February 15 each year. The bill directly affects public school units statewide, with priority given to schools in designated underserved counties.

Maddy summaryHB 316 reenacts North Carolina's Child Tax Credit to help families cover child care costs, with reimbursement percentages based on income and child age (e.g., 7-13% for dependents aged 6-12). It allocates $200 million annually to expand the NC Pre-K program, adding 32,000 slots for 4-year-olds, and $35 million to increase subsidized child care funding. The bill also requires public schools to provide free lunches at no cost to students through state funding tied to school nutrition evaluations. Additionally, it mandates a report on creating a high school child care apprenticeship program. The bill directly affects families with children, public schools, and child care providers across North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 326 requires North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to study ways to increase teacher planning time or reduce workloads that cut into it. The DPI must report to lawmakers by February 15, 2026, with specific recommendations, cost estimates, and other relevant findings. The bill allocates $5,000 in one-time funding for the study, which can include partnering with outside experts. This is a procedural study bill with no immediate policy changes; it aims to inform future decisions about teacher workloads in public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 303, titled "Make Corporations Pay What They Owe," would repeal a planned phaseout of North Carolina's corporate income tax. Specifically, it reverses Section 42.2 of S.L. 2021-180, which had scheduled a gradual reduction in the corporate tax rate. This bill directly affects corporations subject to North Carolina's corporate income tax by preventing the tax rate from decreasing as previously scheduled. The legislation is procedural in nature, focusing on reversing a specific tax policy change rather than creating new tax rates or mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 289 adds one new seat to North Carolina's Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, specifically allowing the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association (PBA) to select a full-time sworn law enforcement officer to serve on the Commission. This amendment increases the Commission's membership from 35 to 36 members by adding the PBA representative to the existing list of appointed positions. The initial appointee selected by the PBA would serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025, with subsequent appointees serving three-year terms as determined by the PBA. The bill does not change training standards or requirements, only the composition of the Commission that oversees them.

Maddy summaryHB 287 allows Franklin County Schools to set their own school calendar start and end dates, bypassing standard state requirements. Specifically, it permits the district to open as early as August 19 (instead of the usual August 26) if they demonstrate "good cause," defined as having averaged eight emergency closures per year over four of the last ten years due to weather, power issues, or other emergencies. The bill applies exclusively to Franklin County Schools and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. It does not change statewide calendar rules but provides targeted flexibility for this district based on documented emergency closure patterns.

Maddy summaryHB 293, the Marine Life Stewardship Act, prohibits the farming (aquaculture) of octopus for human consumption in North Carolina. It specifically bans businesses from raising, selling, possessing, or transporting farmed octopus, while excluding wild-caught octopus and octopus used solely for non-commercial research. Violations carry daily civil penalties up to $1,000. The law directly affects aquaculture businesses and retailers handling farmed octopus products within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 280 allocates $30,000 in one-time state funds to support the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature, a program for older residents to engage with state policy. The funding, from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, covers operational costs for this existing program established under state law. It directly affects the Senior Tar Heel Legislature by providing financial resources for its activities. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not create new policy but enables the program's continued operation.

Maddy summaryHB 269, the "Workforce Freedom and Protection Act," bans non-compete agreements for most North Carolina workers earning under $75,000 annually, prohibiting employers from restricting job mobility after termination or requiring such agreements as a condition of employment. It also directs the Legislative Research Commission to study occupational licensing requirements in key industries like construction, cosmetology, and healthcare to identify unnecessary barriers that may raise costs for consumers or limit job access. The study will evaluate licensing rules based on public safety justification, economic impact, and comparison to national standards, with recommendations for potential reforms. The bill does not immediately change existing licensing but sets a process for reviewing requirements that may disproportionately affect low- and moderate-income workers. The non-compete ban takes effect July 1, 2025.