Rep. Jonathan Almond

Maddy summaryHB 546 modernizes North Carolina's Medicaid program by requiring the state to develop team-based care coordination for individuals with alcohol and opioid use disorders, including screening, medication, and recovery support. The bill also allows telehealth-only providers to enroll in Medicaid without needing a physical office in the state and mandates a statewide specialty plan for children in foster care or receiving adoption assistance, to be implemented by December 2025. These changes directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries with substance use disorders, telehealth providers, and eligible children and families. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the implementation of the substance use care and telehealth provisions by October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 357 establishes licensing and regulatory requirements for continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in North Carolina. All providers (both for-profit and nonprofit) must obtain a license from the North Carolina Department of Insurance and undergo annual actuarial reviews to verify financial stability. The law directly affects CCRCs operating in the state and their residents, who often pay large upfront fees for long-term care. Key provisions include mandatory actuarial studies to ensure providers can sustain services, protecting residents from financial harm if a provider becomes insolvent.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Interstate Medical Licensure Compact in North Carolina, allowing physicians who meet specific qualifications to obtain medical licenses in multiple participating states through a streamlined process. The law creates an Interstate Commission to oversee the compact and sets clear standards for physician eligibility, including requirements for medical school graduation, passing licensing exams, specialty certification, and a clean disciplinary record. While the compact simplifies licensing for qualified doctors, it maintains that each state retains authority to regulate medical practice within its borders and can take disciplinary action against physicians licensed through the compact. The bill does not alter existing state medical practice laws but adds an additional pathway for physicians to practice across state lines.

Maddy summaryHB 612, the "Fostering Care in NC Act," updates North Carolina's laws governing child abuse, neglect, and dependency cases. It expands the definition of "abused juveniles" to include specific offenses like sexual crimes, human trafficking, and certain violent acts, affecting how cases are classified. The bill requires county social services directors to use either a family-centered assessment or a formal investigation when reviewing reports, and to collect military affiliation details of the juvenile's caregiver. It also clarifies that court jurisdiction over juveniles continues until age 18, emancipation, or death. These changes standardize responses to child welfare reports and improve information gathering for safety decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 251 prohibits North Carolina state agencies from denying disaster recovery assistance (like grants) based on a person's political affiliation or political speech. It applies to all applicants for state disaster aid, including U.S. citizens, nationals, and qualified aliens, and sets penalties of a Class I felony for violations. The bill also defines "temporary housing" (such as trailers or tents) and adds criminal penalties for stealing such housing during declared emergencies. These changes aim to ensure state disaster aid is distributed fairly and protect emergency housing resources.

Maddy summaryHB 59 would increase the income eligibility limit for North Carolina's elderly or disabled property tax homestead exclusion from $25,000 to $48,000 for taxable years beginning July 1, 2026. This change would directly affect homeowners aged 65 or older, or those who are totally and permanently disabled, who meet other criteria (like being a North Carolina resident and owning their home as a permanent residence). The bill modifies the existing rule that currently limits eligibility to those with incomes under $25,000, raising the threshold to $48,000 while maintaining the exclusion amount as the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the home's appraised value. The change aims to expand access to this property tax relief for qualifying low-to-moderate income homeowners. (Note: The bill was withdrawn in June 2025 and has not become law.)

Maddy summaryHB 480 creates a new pathway for doctors, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants to obtain North Carolina medical licenses by transferring licenses from other states ("licensure by endorsement"). To qualify, applicants must have held an active license in another U.S. jurisdiction for at least five years (with two years of practice post-residency for doctors), have a verified full-time job offer in North Carolina, maintain good standing with no recent disciplinary actions, and meet practice hour requirements. The bill increases application fees for endorsement (e.g., $825 for physicians vs. $400 for standard licensure) and requires additional documentation within 180 days to keep the license active. This directly affects out-of-state medical professionals seeking to practice in North Carolina without retaking exams.

Maddy summaryHB 661, the Building Industry Efficiency Act of 2025, modifies North Carolina's construction and street regulations to streamline development. It prohibits inspection departments from charging fees for canceling inspections more than one business day early (Section 1.1), and limits municipalities from imposing stricter street design standards than the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for both public and private streets (Sections 1.2-1.3). For private streets, developers must disclose if engineered designs fall below NCDOT standards and provide disclosures to buyers before sales. Municipalities and counties must accept pedestrian facilities or street improvements into public road systems after project completion, but counties need agreements with NCDOT or municipalities first (Sections 1.4-1.5). The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting developers, municipalities, engineers, and property buyers.

Maddy summaryHB 50 creates two new options for retired state and local law enforcement officers with at least 30 years of service or 55 years old with 5+ years of service. It allows officers retiring before age 62 to choose between two calculation methods for an annual separation allowance: either 0.85% of their most recent base pay for each year of service, or a fixed amount based on pay at 30 years of service. The allowance stops when officers turn 62 or pass away. This directly affects qualifying law enforcement officers who retire under North Carolina's state retirement system.

Maddy summaryHB 271 alters how municipal elections are conducted in several towns and cities in Cabarrus County. The bill changes regular municipal elections in the City of Concord, Town of Harrisburg, City of Kannapolis, Town of Midland, and Town of Mount Pleasant from a nonpartisan to a partisan basis. For the City of Concord, it also specifies that only voters residing in a particular district can vote for that district's City Council member, rather than the entire city voting for all members. These changes will apply to elections held in 2025 and thereafter.