Rep. Jeff Zenger

Maddy summaryHB 763, the Neighbor State License Recognition Act, allows professionals licensed in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia to obtain a North Carolina license more easily if they move to the state. It applies to most licensed occupations (excluding healthcare, law, architecture, engineering, and others listed in the bill) and requires applicants to have held a current license in one of those states for at least one year, be in good standing, and meet competency standards through their home state's requirements. The bill streamlines the process by eliminating redundant exams or paperwork for qualifying applicants, while requiring licensing boards to publish clear eligibility criteria online. The bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryHB 768 clarifies exemptions from in-building emergency responder communication system requirements in North Carolina's fire code. It exempts specific small buildings: R-2 apartment buildings of Type V construction meeting egress rules, and hotels/motels under two stories with direct exterior egress from each unit. The bill also provides rules for disconnecting existing communication systems in these exempt buildings and requires the Building Code Council to adopt formal rules incorporating these changes. These provisions directly affect property owners and developers of qualifying residential buildings by reducing compliance requirements.

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 247 updates North Carolina's Underground Utility Safety and Damage Prevention Act to improve safety for construction and utility work. It requires utility companies (facility operators) to mark underground utility locations within 3 business days (10 days for underwater facilities) and sets clearer deadlines for excavators to provide notice before digging. The bill defines key terms like "soft dig technologies" (using air/water to dig) and "safety buffer zones" around utilities to reduce damage risks. These changes directly affect construction crews, utility companies, and contractors performing excavation work across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 421 clarifies North Carolina's motor vehicle dealer licensing rules. It extends the license renewal grace period from 30 to 60 days after expiration, requiring the Division to issue temporary licenses during this time. The bill also aligns dealer license plate renewals with dealer license cycles (now two years) and mandates that dealer plates be replaced every three to four years. These changes directly affect all licensed motor vehicle dealers in North Carolina who must renew licenses or plates. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

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 808, the NC Infrastructure Protection Act, prohibits North Carolina government entities from contracting with companies owned by citizens of China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or countries later designated as threats. It specifically blocks foreign-owned companies from gaining access to critical infrastructure like electric grids, water treatment facilities, and cybersecurity systems. The bill also mandates criminal background checks for all individuals granted access to these systems, applying to government contracts and public utility operations. These requirements will take effect for new contracts after the bill’s passage, with background check rules for utilities needing to be implemented by October 2026.

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 811 requires North Carolina property assessors to send written notices to property owners within 30 days of a property revaluation. These notices must include the current and prior appraised values, the percentage change, appeal instructions, and tax rates from the previous year. The bill also mandates that budget officers publish an estimate of the revenue-neutral tax rate on government websites by May 15 each year a revaluation occurs, updating it by July 15 after the budget is adopted. This transparency measure applies to all counties conducting revaluations effective on or after January 1, 2025, directly affecting property owners and local government budget processes.