Rep. David Willis

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 520 aims to protect North Carolina citizens and businesses from deceptive telemarketing practices, particularly those involving misleading caller ID. The bill establishes that a telephone number is the property of the subscriber and prohibits telephone solicitors from misrepresenting the origin of a call or transmitting misleading caller identification information. It also prevents telephone carriers from knowingly providing subscriber numbers to entities that will violate these provisions. Individuals who receive calls in violation of the misleading caller ID rules can sue for civil damages, including an additional $10,000 fine for each knowing violation. Knowing violations of the caller ID provision are also classified as a Class H felony.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 618, the "Ivermectin Access Act," directs the State Health Director to issue a statewide standing order that allows licensed pharmacists to dispense ivermectin for human use. Under this order, pharmacists would be authorized to provide ivermectin without requiring a written prescription or consultation from a healthcare professional. The bill also grants immunity from civil or criminal liability to the State Health Director for issuing the order and to any pharmacist who dispenses ivermectin in accordance with it. The State Health Director is required to issue this statewide standing order by October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 795 expands eligibility for guardianship assistance programs for youth in foster care. It allows the Division of Social Services to provide financial support to children who are at least 10 years old when they exit foster care into relative or legal guardianship, provided they meet other criteria like a strong attachment to their guardian. The bill also permits younger siblings of eligible children to receive assistance. Additionally, it allows individuals to continue receiving support until age 21 if they were 16 or older when the agreement began and are pursuing education or employment.

Maddy summaryHB 270 revises North Carolina's death penalty laws by altering the available methods of execution for individuals sentenced to death. It allows convicted persons to choose between electrocution, firing squad, or lethal injection, with electrocution serving as the default if no election is made or other methods are unavailable. The bill also protects licensed healthcare professionals from disciplinary action for assisting in executions and permits other medical professionals, like nurses or paramedics, to monitor the process and certify death. Additionally, it makes the identities of those involved in carrying out executions confidential.

Maddy summaryHB 581, the Career Pathways Transparency Act, requires the State Education Assistance Authority to create a "Know Before You Go" website. This website will provide students and parents with information on projected employment needs, associated salary ranges, and relevant college majors. It will also detail specific outcome data for public and private institutions of higher education and vocational schools, including tuition, student loan debt, completion rates, and post-graduation employment and salary information. Local school boards will be mandated to provide this "Know Before You Go" information to high school sophomores to help them make informed decisions about their postsecondary education and career paths. A grant program will be established to assist local boards in implementing these programs.

Maddy summaryHB 598, titled "Live Event Ticketing Protections and Reforms," aims to create consumer protections for individuals purchasing tickets for live entertainment events, particularly in the secondary market. The bill requires ticket issuers, resellers, and secondary ticket exchanges to clearly display the total ticket price, including all mandatory fees, from the initial listing and prohibits price increases during a single ticketing session. It prevents primary ticket issuers from restricting a purchaser's ability to resell tickets on their chosen platform or from setting minimum/maximum resale prices. Additionally, secondary ticket exchanges would be prohibited from using website addresses that are similar to the name of an event, performer, or venue.

Maddy summaryHB 483 proposes several changes to juvenile justice procedures. The bill extends the maximum terms of probation and post-release supervision for youth adjudicated of certain violent offenses (Class A, B1, or B2 felonies) to up to three years. It clarifies a victim's right to be notified and heard regarding the termination of a juvenile's probation or post-release supervision. Additionally, the bill modifies criteria for secure custody, allowing a superior court judge to issue such an order after a case is moved to juvenile court and authorizing it for juveniles who violate domestic violence protective orders.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 773 proposes changes to how North Carolina public schools (K-12) are graded on their performance. The bill modifies the calculation of school achievement scores by altering the specific student proficiency measures used across different grade levels and shifts from a composite weighting to giving equal weight to each achievement element. It also revises the calculation of school growth scores, specifying which achievement measures contribute to growth for each grade band and adding metrics for students in the lowest 25% for English Language Arts and mathematics. These adjustments directly impact how the State Board of Education assigns overall performance scores and grades to schools.

Maddy summaryHB 139, titled "Baby Boxes/Newborn Safety Device," allows for the safe surrender of infants up to 30 days old using a specialized newborn safety device. This bill permits parents to place an infant in these devices, which must have a dual alarm system connected to the facility and be tested monthly. These devices can only be installed at continuously staffed emergency departments, emergency facilities, or social services offices, where qualified healthcare providers, first responders, or social services workers will take temporary custody of the infant. The act is set to become effective on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 875 directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to establish a comprehensive system of mathematics support for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. This system requires DPI to provide approved lists of high-quality supplemental math systems for screening and progress monitoring, as well as instructional materials for intervention and core curriculum. These materials must utilize structured problem-based learning, explicit instruction, and provide responsive feedback to students. The bill also mandates DPI to offer approved professional development programs for K-8 teachers to implement these new instructional approaches effectively. Parents will be notified of any identified mathematical deficiencies, including characteristics of dyscalculia, and receive information on interventions and home strategies.