Rep. Julia Howard

Maddy summaryHB 163 regulates Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) to ensure fair practices for pharmacies and insured individuals. The bill prohibits PBMs from charging insurers more for a prescription drug than they pay the pharmacy (spread pricing) and requires patient out-of-pocket costs to be based on the net price after any PBM concessions. It establishes minimum reimbursement standards for pharmacies, preventing PBMs from paying less than the national average drug acquisition cost plus a dispensing fee. Additionally, it clarifies that PBMs cannot restrict accredited pharmacies from dispensing specialty drugs and strengthens audit protections for pharmacies.

Maddy summaryHB 729, titled the "Farmland Protection Act," makes several changes related to solar energy development. It reduces the property tax exclusion for solar energy electric systems from 80% to 40% of their appraised value, which will increase the taxable value of these systems. The bill also prohibits the construction of new utility-scale solar projects that are not qualifying facilities under federal law, unless they are sited on specific types of land such as brownfields, non-agricultural land, or clear-cut timberland. Additionally, it updates the effective dates for requirements regarding financial assurance and decommissioning plans for utility-scale solar projects, affecting both existing and new facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 734, titled "Modernize Debt Settlement Prohibition," aims to prohibit debt settlement and debt adjusting services in North Carolina. The bill reclassifies these activities as unfair trade practices and clarifies their definitions. It makes engaging in debt adjusting or debt settlement a Class 2 misdemeanor and expands civil remedies for debtors. The bill grants superior courts the authority to enjoin such practices and assess civil penalties. However, it exempts certain individuals and transactions, such as a creditor acting without cost to the debtor or an attorney acting within an attorney-client relationship.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 650, titled "No Interchange Fees on Sales Tax or Tips," prohibits payment card networks, issuer banks, and acquirer banks from charging interchange fees on the sales tax or gratuity portions of electronic payment transactions. This directly affects merchants by reducing the processing fees they pay on these specific amounts. Merchants must provide the tax or gratuity data during the transaction authorization or settlement process, or submit documentation later to receive a credit for any fees charged. The bill also includes measures to prevent entities from adjusting other fees to circumvent this prohibition. Violations can result in injunctive relief, civil penalties, and refunds to affected merchants.

Maddy summaryHB 631 establishes a joint legislative study commission to examine the feasibility of creating a State Infrastructure Bank in North Carolina. This commission will investigate how such a bank could sustainably finance various infrastructure projects, including transportation, environmental, energy, and housing, to support economic growth and community development. Composed of legislators, state officials, and appointed experts, the commission will hold public meetings across the state and provide recommendations to the General Assembly by late 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 917 establishes a new Data Analytics, Transparency, and Accountability Division within North Carolina's General Assembly. The bill requires all state agencies to provide the Division with requested data and access to systems (while protecting personal information), mandates annual reports from agencies like the Global TransPark Authority detailing job creation metrics and financials, and allocates $2 million for the Division's operations. This Division will oversee transparency efforts, analyze agency data, and receive reports from state entities on performance metrics and real property portfolios. The Division becomes operational starting July 1, 2025, with updated statutory references reflecting its new name.

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 264, the Wire Fraud Prevention Act, requires banks to verify payment orders through specific security procedures (like verbal checks with customers and beneficiaries) before processing transfers. It mandates that banks refund full amounts for unauthorized payments within 90 days of notification, or 25% within 30 days for certain cases, while customers must report issues promptly to avoid losing interest. The law also obligates beneficiary banks to pay recipients within specific timeframes (including delaying full payment for new accounts over $100,000) and notify recipients of payment receipts by midnight the next business day. This directly affects banks handling wire transfers and their customers, with changes taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 382 allows North Carolina's Wildlife Resources Commission to issue elk hunting permits through a raffle and an auction for the 2026 season. Residents can enter a $20-per-ticket raffle (max 30 tickets for $500), while a nonprofit focused on elk conservation must conduct an auction where the nonprofit keeps ≤25% of proceeds, with all other funds going to elk conservation. Permits are nontransferable, and the Commission must reserve 50% of raffle permits for North Carolina residents in future seasons. All revenue supplements existing elk management funding, and the Commission must report annually on program effectiveness to legislative committees.

Maddy summaryHB 702 updates North Carolina's chiropractic licensing rules. It requires chiropractors to complete 4,200 hours of accredited education (including a bachelor's degree) and pass exams covering subjects like anatomy and chiropractic philosophy. The bill adds new standards for chiropractors to practice acupuncture and clarifies that licensed chiropractors cannot prescribe drugs or perform surgery. It also revises Board membership rules (e.g., limiting members from the same chiropractic school) and establishes supervised training programs for students. These changes affect current and future chiropractors, chiropractic schools, and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.