Rep. Jonathan Almond

Maddy summaryHB 564 provides a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for retirees in North Carolina's Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, and Legislative Retirement System. It increases retirement payments for retirees who retired on or before specific dates (July 1, 2024, for most systems, or January 1, 2025, for the Legislative system) and offers a prorated increase for those retiring between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The bill appropriates $106.2 million from the General Fund to fund this adjustment, effective July 1, 2025. This policy change directly affects current retirees in these systems by increasing their monthly benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 440, "Healthy Food Healthy Bodies," reclassifies foods containing vaccine material as drugs under North Carolina law and bans nine specific food additives. It directly affects food manufacturers, retailers, and distributors in North Carolina by requiring products containing substances like brominated vegetable oil, artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5/6), and certain preservatives to comply with new regulations. Key provisions include prohibiting these additives in human food products and imposing civil penalties of up to $5,000 for first violations (increasing to $10,000 for subsequent offenses), with the law set to take effect January 1, 2027. The bill does not address general food labeling or nutritional content but focuses on reclassifying specific items and banning listed additives.

Maddy summaryHB 134 requires manufacturers of cell-cultured, insect-based, or plant-based food products to clearly label items that use meat-related terms (like "beef" or "chicken") with specific qualifying terms (such as "cell-cultured," "plant-based," or "insect-based") in prominent, close proximity on packaging. This directly affects food companies producing alternative meat products that might otherwise confuse consumers by mimicking traditional meat names. The bill defines key terms like "identifying meat term" and "qualifying term" to ensure labels are clear and prevent misleading representations. It mandates that products using terms like "beef" or "chicken" must include these qualifiers to avoid being deemed "misbranded" under North Carolina law. The law aims to ensure transparency for consumers about the origin of these food products.

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 486 appropriates $1 million from North Carolina's General Fund to Blue Star Families, Inc., a nonprofit organization, for specific military family support programs. The funds will directly support military spouses through career development (via a Fayetteville chapter), strengthen military families, and provide caregiver services for veterans and military personnel. The allocation is structured as $400,000 for career programs, $300,000 for family strengthening, and $300,000 for caregiver services, all for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and focuses solely on funding existing nonprofit services without altering laws or creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 470, "The Second Amendment Protection Act," prohibits North Carolina state officials and employees from enforcing federal firearms laws within the state. It specifically bans state law enforcement, government employees, and political subdivisions from assisting in the enforcement of any federal rules, regulations, or statutes related to firearms, accessories, or ammunition. The bill states that such federal laws exceed constitutional authority under the Tenth Amendment and that North Carolina retains full power to regulate firearms under its own laws. It does not change North Carolina's existing firearm regulations but blocks state resources from being used to implement federal gun control measures. The act applies directly to all state and local government employees who might otherwise assist in federal gun law enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 47, the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part I, allocates $524 million from the Helene Fund to support recovery efforts in North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. The bill directs funds to specific programs including home reconstruction ($120 million), agricultural crop loss assistance ($200 million), road and bridge repairs ($100 million), small business infrastructure grants ($55 million), debris removal ($20 million), fire department equipment ($10 million), and tourism promotion ($4 million). These resources directly assist residents, farmers, local governments, and businesses in designated hurricane-affected counties by addressing immediate rebuilding needs and supporting economic recovery. The bill requires programs to align with federal disaster recovery guidelines to maximize potential federal reimbursement, with reporting requirements for certain initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 184 allows small North Carolina sawmills (those milling under 1 million board feet annually) to sell ungraded lumber directly to homeowners for residential construction. The bill amends building codes to permit this ungraded "dimension lumber" in one- and two-family homes and certain small structures, provided mills meet specific requirements. These include operators holding state-approved lumber grading training certifications, marking lumber with detailed specifications (species, mill ID, PS20 compliance), and providing purchaser certificates. Code officials must review construction for safety compliance (excluding grade-stamp requirements) and are protected from liability for structural issues related to ungraded lumber use. The law aims to support local sawmills while maintaining safety standards through defined labeling, training, and oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 186, the "Stars and Stripes Commitment Act," requires all North Carolina public schools (including charter, regional, and laboratory schools) to schedule the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance within one hour of the start of the instructional day. It also mandates that schools display U.S. and North Carolina flags in classrooms when available and provide age-appropriate instruction about the flag and pledge’s meaning. The bill applies to all school governing bodies and state education board meetings, requiring the pledge to open each meeting. Crucially, it explicitly states the policy does not compel anyone to stand, salute, or recite the pledge. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 430 would raise North Carolina's legal sales age for all tobacco and nicotine products (including e-cigarettes and vaping devices) to 21. It requires retailers to obtain a tobacco sales permit and verify customers' ages using acceptable ID. The bill directly affects tobacco retailers (who must get permits) and youth under 21 (who would be barred from purchasing these products). Key provisions include defining "vapor products" and establishing penalties for violations, such as fines up to $1,000 for repeat offenses.