Rep. Brian Biggs

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 703 allows State veterans cemeteries to sell monuments and memorials directly to honor individuals interred within them. This bill permits the sale of items such as memorial trees, granite or marble markers, and benches, though not headstones. State veterans cemeteries can establish stylistic guidelines for these items and must not charge more than the market rate. The funds generated from these sales will be retained by the selling cemetery and dedicated solely to its maintenance, improvement, and care. This act becomes effective on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 855 expands the types of schools that can request a Residency License (RL) for teachers in North Carolina. Currently, only public school units can request these one-year, renewable licenses. This bill allows certain nonpublic schools to also request Residency Licenses for their teachers. Specifically, it includes nonpublic schools meeting state requirements or those approved by the Department of Public Instruction for students with extraordinary costs. Teachers for whom an RL is requested must still meet existing qualifications, such as holding a bachelor's degree and being enrolled in an educator preparation program.

Maddy summaryHB 135 establishes labeling requirements for "manufactured-protein food products," which include items made from cell cultures, insects, or plants that resemble traditional meat or poultry. The bill mandates that if these products use identifying meat or poultry terms, their labels must also prominently display a "qualifying term" like "cell-cultured" or "plant-based" in a specific font size and location to prevent misbranding. Additionally, the bill aims to prohibit public educational institutions from purchasing certain food products and proposes an environmental investment assessment on specific animal-derived and analogous food products.

Maddy summaryHB 329 encourages nonpublic schools in North Carolina, including private church schools and other qualified nonpublic schools, to adopt policies that prohibit the use of tobacco and hemp products on their school grounds. The bill amends existing state statutes to add this encouragement. It suggests that these schools use the current requirements for public schools as guidance when developing their own policies. This legislation aims to promote smoke-free and hemp-free environments within nonpublic educational settings.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 244, titled "Depoliticize Government Property Act," restricts the types of flags that can be flown or displayed on property owned or leased by the State of North Carolina or its local government entities. The bill specifies a limited list of permissible flags, including the U.S. flag, the North Carolina flag, flags of local government agencies, military branch flags, the POW/MIA flag, the Honor and Remember flag, and flags of recognized nations during official visits. It also clarifies that local governments cannot prohibit the display of official governmental flags on private or public property with consent. Any violation of the display restrictions on government property would be classified as a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Maddy summaryHB 636 establishes new procedures for public school units to select and review library media and materials, affecting students, parents, and school personnel. The bill requires schools to adopt policies that ensure materials are age-appropriate and do not contain content defined as "harmful to minors," which includes depictions of sexual activity or pervasively vulgar content. It mandates a review process involving a community library advisory committee, public posting of recommended materials, and a mechanism for public objections. Additionally, the bill requires the creation of a public database for rejected materials and allows parents, guardians, students, or residents to pursue private legal action against schools violating these provisions. Principals are also required to review all media available at school book fairs for compliance.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 610 directs the Department of Public Instruction to conduct a study on the feasibility of requiring each local school district to maintain at least one school operating on a year-round calendar for grades kindergarten through 12. The study will examine administrative and operational costs, transportation challenges, and potential barriers to establishing these schools. It will also assess anticipated student enrollment if year-round options were more accessible. The Department can work with a third-party for this research and must report its findings and any recommendations to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by January 15, 2027.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 432 aims to provide various forms of property tax relief to North Carolina homeowners. It increases the property tax exclusion amounts for qualifying elderly or disabled homeowners and expands the exclusion for disabled veterans, allowing more of their home's value to be exempt from taxation. The bill also establishes a new "Homeowner Advantage Property Tax Relief Program" designed to cap the annual increase in a permanent residence's taxable value, based on inflation and a cumulative limit. To qualify for this program, homeowners must have occupied their residence for at least two years. Additionally, the bill creates an "Elderly Property Tax Homestead Circuit Breaker Program" and exemptions from the forced sale of a homestead.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates "The Andy Griffith Show" as the official television show of the State of North Carolina. This symbolic act recognizes the cultural impact of the show and its connection to the state.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 946 establishes a new class of teaching license in North Carolina specifically for educators in Montessori schools. This "Montessori license" allows individuals to teach only in schools that primarily use Montessori instruction. To qualify, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree, possess a valid credential from a recognized Montessori organization, and complete any required state examinations. This license does not permit the holder to teach in public schools that are not Montessori schools unless they also hold a separate public school teaching license.