Rep. Dean Arp

Maddy summaryHB 688 creates a dedicated annual appropriation of $100,000 from the state General Fund to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund specifically for inclusive playground projects. It directly affects local governments, public schools, and public authorities (as defined in state law) seeking to build or adapt playgrounds to meet the needs of people with disabilities. The bill provides grants of up to $5,000 per project, requiring recipients to match each $5 in state funds with $1 in local funds. This funding operates separately from other Trust Fund allocations, ensuring dedicated resources for accessibility improvements without reducing existing funding for state parks or coastal access. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 751 requires large electric utilities (serving at least 150,000 North Carolina customers by 2025) that already offer seasonal or intermittent energy rates in part of their service area to file a rate case by September 2025. This would extend those same seasonal rates to all eligible customers statewide, rather than offering different rates in different regions. The bill applies specifically to utilities with existing seasonal rate schedules, mandating a uniform statewide approach for those services. It does not change the rates themselves, only requires the utility to expand an existing rate structure to all customers it serves.

Maddy summaryHB 595 restricts certain curriculum content in North Carolina public schools, directly affecting K-12 students and their parents. It bans instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality in grades K-6 (except answering student questions) and requires parental written consent for such topics in grades 7-12. The bill mandates that schools provide age-appropriate health education materials, including 60-day parental review periods for materials related to sexual health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and reproductive health. It also specifies that human growth education in 4th and 5th grades must be single-sex, scientifically based, and require annual parental consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill's title ("Ensuring Patient Safety with Mail Order Medications") does not match its actual content. The bill, formally titled "AN ACT REVISING ABORTION-INDUCING DRUG LAWS," restricts the mailing of abortion-inducing drugs in North Carolina. It prohibits mailing such drugs to pregnant women unless a qualified physician provides in-person counseling 72 hours prior, all other informed consent requirements are met, and the drugs are FDA-approved. Violations carry $5,000 fines per offense or Class H felony charges, and the bill creates civil remedies allowing women, parents, or the Attorney General to sue for damages or injunctions. The bill is currently pending in committee (referred March 31, 2025) and would take effect December 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 542 appropriates $7.5 million annually from the ARPA Temporary Savings Fund for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to expand mental and behavioral health services for children, families, and staff in North Carolina child care facilities and out-of-school programs. The funds, managed by the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC), must supplement existing services and cannot replace current funding, with unused funds remaining available until fully spent. NCPC must distribute the funds to local partnerships and submit annual progress reports detailing services provided, participants served, and recommendations for future initiatives. The bill also establishes a special fund to hold unexpended funds, allowing NCPC to retain up to $5 million in cash annually for future use.

Maddy summaryHB 16 requires the North Carolina General Assembly to display the national motto "In God We Trust" directly above and behind the dais for the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, aligning with the U.S. House of Representatives' display. The bill mandates the Legislative Services Officer to implement this, first using private gifts or donations for costs, and if none are provided within 90 days, using state funds. It becomes effective July 1, 2025. This is a procedural bill affecting legislative chamber decor, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 5, the NC Constitutional Carry Act, allows any U.S. citizen aged 18 or older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit, effective upon enactment. This directly affects most adult residents who are not prohibited from firearm ownership under existing state or federal law. The bill removes the permit requirement for concealed carry (per new Section 14-415.35(a)), while maintaining all existing prohibitions - such as for felons, domestic violence offenders, or those under indictment. It also preserves the ability to obtain permits for reciprocity or other purposes, and continues allowing officials with permits to carry while on duty. The law does not change restrictions for prohibited individuals, who remain barred from concealed carry.

Maddy summaryHB 405 is a procedural bill that repeals a specific subsection (subsection (a) of Section 2) from S.L. 2023-92. It does not describe the North Carolina Coordinate System of 1983 or explain its purpose, so it cannot be determined who it directly affects or what concrete changes it would make. The bill text only specifies the repeal and effective date, with no substantive policy provisions. As a purely procedural measure, it is currently pending referral to a House committee.

Maddy summaryHB 11 would allow North Carolina taxpayers to deduct overtime pay, up to $2,500 in bonus pay (defined as cash awards for workplace dedication), and reported tips from their taxable income. It applies to individuals and married couples filing jointly, with each spouse eligible for separate deductions. The bill specifically defines "bonus pay" to exclude tips and requires taxpayers to provide documentation to claim the deduction. This policy change would take effect for tax returns filed in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 310 proposes a constitutional amendment to North Carolina that would require all eminent domain takings (government seizure of private property) to serve a "public use" and mandate fair compensation determined by a jury. It directly affects property owners, local governments, and utilities by restricting when property can be taken and ensuring compensation is set through a jury trial. The bill also updates existing law (G.S. 40A-3) to clarify which entities (like utilities or local governments) may exercise eminent domain for specific projects. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.