Rep. Kanika Brown

Maddy summaryHB 335 expands eligibility for emergency judges in North Carolina by allowing retired judges who previously served in both Superior Court and District Court to qualify for emergency judge roles on either court. Currently, retired judges could only serve as emergency judges on the specific court they retired from, but this bill removes that restriction for judges with dual court experience. The change directly affects retired judges who held positions in both court systems before retiring, making them eligible to be assigned to emergency duties in either court. This adjustment streamlines the pool of available judges for temporary court needs without altering compensation or other existing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 793 appropriates $5 million for Fayetteville's Innovation District (to foster collaboration between businesses, universities, and institutions), $2.5 million to consolidate the city and Cumberland County's 911 dispatch center, $25,000 for Hollywood Heights Community Club facility repairs, $400,000 annually for four fire stations, and $100,000 annually for Lake Rim Park maintenance. The bill directs state funds to specific local projects in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, effective July 1, 2025. It provides one-time and recurring funding for infrastructure, public safety, and community facilities without altering existing laws. The bill directly affects Fayetteville city operations, Cumberland County emergency services, and local nonprofit and park entities.

Maddy summaryHB 807 raises teacher salaries for the 2025-2026 school year with new pay scales based on experience and adds supplements for certified teachers, school nurses, counselors, and specialists. It allocates $89.4 million annually and $109.2 million as a one-time fund to provide weighted, per-child funding for children with disabilities based on the cost of services provided. The bill also mandates free breakfast and lunch for all public school students, funded through state appropriations tied to school food authority evaluations, and includes funding for a one-to-one device refresh in public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 802 requires all North Carolina public schools to adopt written policies banning the use of nicotine, hemp, and vaping products (including e-cigarettes and delta-8) in school buildings, on campuses, and at school events. Students under 21 found in possession of these products will have them confiscated, with parents notified within 24 hours; first offenses require schools to provide evidence-based cessation resources and education, while repeat offenses trigger disciplinary action. Schools must also distribute age-appropriate, Department of Health and Human Services-approved prevention materials to students at the start of each school year. The bill mandates schools to enforce these policies through clear signage, staff training, and collaboration with health officials.

Maddy summaryHB 790 prohibits the sale of tobacco, vape, and alternative nicotine products within 1,000 feet of any public or nonpublic school building. It directly affects vape and tobacco shops located near schools, banning sales in those zones while excluding home schools and colleges. The law includes an exception for incidental sales tied to a business's primary operations but classifies violations as Class 2 misdemeanors. The bill takes effect December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 796, the Student Mental Health Line Awareness Act, requires all North Carolina public schools serving grades 6-12 to print three specific suicide prevention contact numbers on new student identification cards. The mandated information includes the 988 Lifeline (call/text), Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741), and the NC Statewide Warmline (1-855-733-7762), displayed prominently on the ID. Schools must verify these numbers are current annually and use updated contact information. The bill applies to local school boards, charter schools, regional schools, and laboratory schools, but explicitly states it does not require issuing student IDs. It takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 815 revises North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program, which provides state-funded vouchers for private school tuition. It expands eligibility to include students in foster care, military families, and those previously enrolled in public school, while prioritizing low-income students (households at or below 200% of the federal free/reduced lunch income threshold) for full tuition coverage (90% for full-time, 45% for part-time). Nonpublic schools receiving funds must meet reporting standards, and the program now requires schools to document student enrollment and academic progress. This bill directly affects low-income families, military-connected students, and participating private schools seeking state-funded tuition assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 814 (PIRE) promotes the use of advanced conductors (lower-resistance wires) and grid-enhancing technologies to improve electricity transmission efficiency and reliability. It directly affects public utilities, electric membership corporations, and municipal power agencies by waiving standard permitting requirements for specific upgrades that increase capacity, reduce congestion, or enhance grid resilience using these technologies. The bill requires applicants to detail the costs and benefits of such upgrades in their applications and mandates environmental reviews for new projects. This policy change streamlines infrastructure modernization without new construction, focusing on optimizing existing transmission systems.

Maddy summaryHB 792 appropriates $10 million (to the NC Clean Energy Innovation and Research Fund) and $4.5 million (to the One North Carolina Fund) for competitive grants in North Carolina's 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds target small businesses (under 100 employees), nonprofits, local governments, and state agencies to support clean energy innovation, renewable technology deployment, and energy efficiency projects. Key provisions include requiring matching funds for some grants and prioritizing workforce development in the clean energy sector. The grants aim to grow North Carolina's green economy through business development and market expansion in renewable energy. Funds not spent by June 30, 2027, will revert to the state's general fund.

Maddy summaryHB 788 ("Fix Our Democracy") proposes amending the North Carolina Constitution to establish a nonpartisan redistricting process for state legislative and U.S. House districts. It would require a constitutional amendment (voting required in 2026) to remove the General Assembly's role in drawing districts, mandating that districts be contiguous, avoid dividing counties where possible, and remain unchanged until the next census. The bill also includes related provisions like online voter registration, automatic registration, banning voter roll purging, and campaign finance transparency changes. This constitutional change would directly affect how electoral districts are created for state legislators and U.S. representatives in North Carolina.