Rep. David Willis

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to change how North Carolina fills vacancies for seven specific state offices, including the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. If passed by voters, the new rule would require the Governor to appoint a replacement from a list of three candidates recommended by the political party of the original officeholder, provided the party submits the list within 30 days of the vacancy. The amendment also clarifies that if an office term ends on January 1 following the next legislative election, the Governor must appoint someone to finish the term. The measure is scheduled for a vote by the public at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies North Carolina's mask exemption laws by clarifying that wearing a mask for personal health or safety is allowed, but individuals must remove it upon request by law enforcement during a traffic stop or when asked to identify themselves on private property. It also increases criminal penalties for anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or felony if they were wearing a mask or other item that concealed their identity at the time of the offense. Additionally, the legislation creates civil liability for demonstration organizers who obstruct emergency vehicles and updates campaign finance rules regarding federal political committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head as a unique coastal geological area of environmental concern. It establishes specific rules for development within the site, requiring permits for sand removal projects that exceed ten cubic yards per year. Any sand removed under these permits must be returned to designated areas within the Jockey's Ridge State Park. Additionally, the legislation prohibits development activities that would significantly block the natural movement of sand, with limited exceptions for essential infrastructure and maintenance.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, prohibits payment card networks from using special codes to track purchases of firearms or ammunition at merchants in North Carolina. It also bans these networks from maintaining records that identify individuals who own firearms within the state. The law applies to entities that process electronic payments, such as credit card companies, but excludes federally insured banks and credit unions. If a payment network violates these rules, the Attorney General can impose fines of up to $10,000 per violation, and affected merchants or customers can sue for similar damages plus legal fees. The legislation aims to prevent the surveillance of lawful gun purchases and ensure that firearms merchants are not discriminated against based on their business type.

Maddy summaryThis amendment to the 2024 Appropriations Act reallocates $500,000 within the state education budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The funds are moved from the SME Prime program to STEM West, Inc. to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education opportunities for students at all levels. This change directs the money toward fostering partnerships between students and industries while reducing the specific allocation previously designated for SME Prime.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes the North Carolina community college statutes to clarify the system's purpose and designates the Community Colleges System Office as the lead agency for workforce and adult education. It introduces several specific changes, including a ban on using secondary school accreditation status to determine community college admissions and requiring the state board to competitively bid for a learning management system. The legislation also expands a career and college readiness program, allows Fayetteville Technical Community College to partner with private entities for facility construction, and adjusts requirements for AI school safety and special needs pilot programs. Additionally, the bill increases the classroom hour requirement for individuals seeking a massage therapy license.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Physician Assistant Licensure Compact in North Carolina to make it easier for licensed PAs to practice across different states. Under the new rules, a PA holding a valid license in one participating state can obtain a temporary privilege to work in another participating state without applying for a full new license. The system requires PAs to follow the laws of the state where the patient is located and allows state boards to discipline practitioners who move between states. Additionally, the compact includes specific provisions to help active-duty military personnel and their spouses obtain practice privileges quickly when relocating.

Maddy summaryHB 1042 establishes a reimbursement program in North Carolina to help cover veterinary expenses for retired law enforcement and correctional dogs. To qualify, the dogs must have served in official capacities such as detection, apprehension, or search and rescue and hold certification from a national organization. Owners can apply for up to $1,500 annually for essential care like check-ups, vaccinations, emergency surgeries, and euthanasia, but not for elective procedures. The Department of Public Safety will manage a dedicated fund, initially seeded with $300,000, to process these claims and maintain records. The law applies to dogs retiring on or after July 1, 2024, and allows owners to participate voluntarily without affecting any other existing benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory to conduct a study on how proposed changes to the county tier designation system would affect the state's 100 counties. The study will examine potential adjustments to the criteria for ranking counties, the method used to assign tiers, and the timeline for these rankings. It will also assess how these changes impact state programs, business operations, and the accuracy of identifying distressed areas using current data. Funded with $100,000, the Collaboratory must submit a preliminary report by December 31, 2024, and a final report by December 1, 2025, to legislative oversight committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires University of North Carolina schools with large enrollments to play football and basketball games against each other and against smaller UNC schools. It mandates that big schools play at least one game per year against other large UNC schools and every six years against smaller ones, alternating home and away matchups. The legislation also provides $1 million in funding to inform the public about these new competition rules, which would begin applying to the 2025-2026 academic year.