Rep. Kanika Brown

Maddy summaryHB 31 would amend North Carolina's State Human Resources Act to make every statewide general election day a paid holiday for state employees. This change would add election days to the current list of paid holidays (which includes Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday and Veterans Day), while maintaining the limit of 13 paid holidays per year. The bill directly affects state workers, ensuring they receive paid time off on election days without reducing the total number of paid holidays. It does not change election dates or voting procedures, only the employment benefits for state employees on those days. The legislation is currently pending in committee review.

Maddy summaryHB 145 appropriates $50 million in one-time state funds to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) for the development of a diabetes research institute. This bill directly affects UNC-CH as the recipient of the funds and will support diabetes research activities at the university. The funds are designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and become effective July 1, 2025. The legislation is a straightforward funding allocation with no policy changes beyond the specified financial commitment.

Maddy summaryHB 131 reinstates a 35% tax credit for businesses and homeowners who install solar energy systems in North Carolina. Businesses can claim the credit over five years (with a $2.5 million maximum per installation), while homeowners receive capped credits based on system type (e.g., $1,400 for water heating, $3,500 for space heating). The credit applies to equipment placed in service in the state and expires for new installations after 2017, though projects meeting 2015 construction milestones qualify for extension. This bill renews a previously expired tax incentive program for solar energy adoption.

Maddy summaryHB 129, the "Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Judicial Elections Act," reestablishes nonpartisan elections for all North Carolina judicial offices, including Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and superior and district court judges. The bill requires candidates to run without party labels, with primaries held only when more than two candidates file for an office, and winners elected based on highest vote totals (using a random draw only in tie situations). It also restores public financing for judicial campaigns, aiming to reduce partisan influence in judicial races. This bill directly affects judicial candidates, voters, and the election process for all statewide and local judicial positions in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 128 appropriates $2 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to create a statewide prostate cancer screening program administered by North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services. The program provides free or low-cost screenings and follow-up care to uninsured or underinsured men aged 50-70 (40-70 with family history of prostate cancer) who meet income requirements (below 250% of federal poverty level). Eligibility requires no Medicare Part B or Medicaid coverage and specific age/family history criteria as defined in the bill. The program begins July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 115 exempts properly licensed child care facilities from property tax if they are used exclusively for child care. It applies to facilities operating under North Carolina's child care licensing rules (Chapter 110) and excludes both the building and necessary adjacent land from taxation. Partial exemptions are allowed if only part of a facility serves child care, but facilities on probation or with suspended licenses lose the exemption. The tax exemption takes effect for property taxes due on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes repealing a literacy test requirement from the North Carolina Constitution, which would affect all voters by removing a historical barrier to voting. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election, with the ballot explicitly stating: "Constitutional amendment to remove the literacy test requirement... The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits implementation of this requirement." If approved, the change takes effect upon certification by the State Board of Elections. The bill does not alter current voting procedures, as the literacy test has been prohibited by federal law since 1965.

Maddy summaryHB 102 requires North Carolina property assessors to send clear, plain-language notifications to property owners during revaluations. It mandates that these notices include: (1) a simple explanation of why the revaluation is happening, (2) the projected percentage change in the property's appraised value compared to the previous year, (3) the projected percentage change in the property's tax bill, and (4) a website link, QR code, or phone number for additional information or appeals. This applies to all property owners receiving revaluation notices under state law, including those in municipalities spanning multiple counties. The bill takes effect for notices issued on or after its effective date, aiming to improve transparency in property tax assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 84 restricts the sale and use of neonicotinoid pesticides (honeybee-killing chemicals like imidacloprid) in North Carolina. It bans retail sales to the general public, allowing only licensed pesticide applicators or farmers using them for crop production to purchase these chemicals. The law also requires the state pesticide board to monitor federal EPA assessments of these pesticides and study whether to regulate seeds treated with systemic insecticides. These changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 78 prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement activities - such as arrests or warrant service - in places of religious worship (churches, synagogues, etc.), elementary/secondary schools, and hospitals. The bill makes any agreements with ICE that violate this prohibition void and could lead to suspension or loss of law enforcement certification for officers who ignore the ban. It explicitly states that state law enforcement may still enforce North Carolina’s laws as usual, but not for immigration enforcement in these protected locations. The bill applies to all current and future law enforcement agreements involving ICE.