Maddy summaryHB 130 establishes a $475 million program to provide financial assistance to North Carolina farmers who suffered crop losses from natural disasters in 2024. It directly affects farmers in counties designated by the USDA as disaster areas, requiring verified losses of eligible agricultural commodities (like crops, livestock, or specialty plants) planted but not harvested by January 1, 2024. The program uses county and state yield/price averages to calculate payments, mandates submission of USDA Form 578 or equivalent documentation within 30 days, and allocates funds from state reserves (Stabilization, IT, and Economic Development) to cover verified losses. Farmers must provide documentation for verification, and the Department of Agriculture may audit claims to ensure proper use of funds, with refunds required for inaccurate information.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 164 requires parental or guardian consent before releasing autopsy records for children under 18. It makes all autopsy-related materials - including photos, videos, and reports - confidential, except when disclosure is needed for public health, research, legal compliance, or to address safety concerns. If parents withhold consent, a court may override this through a special proceeding after reviewing factors like public interest and privacy intrusion. The bill also allows public access to autopsy recordings (with supervision) unless parents request confidentiality under this law. It applies to all child deaths under 18 in North Carolina, affecting medical examiners, families, and entities seeking autopsy records.
Maddy summaryHB 154 requires NCInnovation, a state entity, to return all state funds and assets it acquired using state money to the North Carolina State Controller. The State Controller must then transfer these funds into the General Fund, where they remain unappropriated until the General Assembly votes to use them for specific purposes. This bill dissolves the financial relationship between the state and NCInnovation by repealing related statutes, effective 60 days after enactment. It directly affects NCInnovation’s financial obligations and the state’s treasury, with no new spending authorized by the transfer.
Maddy summaryHB 72 prohibits North Carolina's Attorney General from participating in any court case (as a party, amicus, or otherwise) that argues a presidential executive order should be invalidated. The law directly affects the Attorney General's office, restricting their ability to challenge federal executive actions in state or federal courts. Key provisions state the Attorney General cannot advance arguments leading to the invalidation of any presidential executive order, applying to all pending or future litigation. This is a procedural limitation on state legal actions, not a change to federal executive power. The bill becomes effective upon enactment for cases filed after that date.
Maddy summaryHB 112 raises the maximum allowable speed limit on North Carolina's interstate highways and controlled-access roads from 70 mph to 75 mph, as determined by the Department of Transportation after engineering studies. This directly affects drivers traveling on these roads, as the new 75 mph limit replaces the previous 70 mph cap where the DOT deems it safe. The bill also updates related penalties: speeding over 85 mph on roads with a 75 mph limit becomes a Class 3 misdemeanor, and license suspension rules for excessive speeding (e.g., over 85 mph on 75 mph zones) are adjusted accordingly. The changes apply only to offenses occurring on or after December 1, 2025, and do not affect cases before that date.
Maddy summaryHB 108, "The Sober Operator Act of 2025," lowers North Carolina's legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving from 0.08% to 0.05% for all vehicles and vessels. It directly affects all drivers, requiring them to maintain a lower BAC level and facing faster license revocation if they refuse tests or exceed the new limit. Key provisions include mandating video recording of impaired driving court proceedings for transparency, requiring impaired drivers to cover processing costs, and allowing repeat offenders to prove sobriety to regain driving privileges. The bill also streamlines evidence rules by admitting BAC test results to reduce court delays and ensures equal treatment in impaired driving cases.
Maddy summaryHB 99 exempts certified reflexologists from oversight by North Carolina's Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. It directly affects nationally certified reflexologists (holding current ARCB certification) and their supervised students, who must obtain certification within 12 months. The bill adds a specific exemption to state licensing law, allowing these practitioners to perform reflexology - a manual technique using pressure on feet/hands - to stimulate neural pathways - without state board regulation. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 89, the "University Vaccination Freedom Act," repeals North Carolina's requirement for college and university students to provide vaccination records. It removes the mandate for students to submit immunization certificates to institutions, effective for the 2026-2027 academic year. The bill retains existing religious exemption provisions (G.S. 130A-157), allowing students to opt out by submitting a written statement of religious beliefs. This change directly affects all students attending public or private colleges and universities in North Carolina.
Maddy summaryHB 75, the Pharmaceutical Full Disclosure Act, requires prescription drug manufacturers to clearly disclose specific information in advertisements targeting North Carolina consumers. It mandates that ads include the FDA approval date for the drug's use, the date the drug first became available to U.S. consumers, and detailed clinical trial data for required side effects (such as trial length, participant numbers, and side effect frequency). The law applies to all advertisements via TV, internet, print, or radio in North Carolina published on or after October 1, 2025, directly affecting drug manufacturers and their marketing materials. This policy change aims to provide clearer, evidence-based information about prescription drugs in promotional content.
Maddy summaryHB 76, titled "Protect Access to Assisted Reproductive Technology," establishes legal protections for patients and healthcare providers regarding fertility treatments. The bill prohibits North Carolina or its local governments from banning, unreasonably limiting, or interfering with patients' access to assisted reproductive technology (ART) - including in vitro fertilization (IVF) - or healthcare providers' ability to offer evidence-based information or perform ART services. Key provisions define "assisted reproductive technology" broadly and clarify that the law does not override existing health and safety regulations for medical facilities. This directly affects individuals seeking fertility care and healthcare providers offering such services within North Carolina. The bill does not create new funding or services but ensures state-level barriers cannot restrict access to these medical treatments.