Rep. Gloristine Brown

Maddy summaryHB 665 creates the Public School Disaster Preparedness Fund to help North Carolina schools in high-risk natural disaster areas improve or replace vulnerable buildings. The fund, starting with $25 million for 2025-2026, requires schools to submit disaster preparedness plans detailing structural risks and improvement costs before receiving funding. Approved projects must meet state-set preparedness standards, with schools reporting annually on fund use and progress. The Department of Public Instruction administers applications on a rolling basis, requiring unanimous approval from the State Board of Education for disbursements.

Maddy summaryHB 668 establishes a program to expand free tax preparation assistance in North Carolina through two key components. It allocates $1.38 million (including $790,000 nonrecurring and $610,000 recurring annually) to fund community colleges to create tax preparation courses and paid work-study opportunities for students, enabling them to become IRS-certified VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) preparers. Additionally, it appropriates $840,000 to the United Way of North Carolina to increase VITA locations, hire staff, provide multilingual resources, and offer financial education. The bill directly helps low-income North Carolinians (earning under $67,000 annually, with disabilities, or limited English proficiency) who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit but often miss claiming it, by expanding access to free tax filing services starting July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 667 would allow certain children of H-1B or L-1 visa holders to pay in-state tuition at North Carolina public universities. Specifically, it applies to students whose parents are lawfully present in the U.S. (not citizens) with valid H-1B/L-1 visas, and who either hold an H-4 visa or were previously classified as in-state residents for tuition while continuously enrolled in college. The bill amends tuition law to permit this status for students meeting these criteria, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year. This policy directly affects immigrant students who would otherwise pay higher out-of-state rates, aiming to support North Carolina's goal of increasing postsecondary degree attainment.

Maddy summaryHB 691, the "Voter Protection and Reliance Act," ensures voters' ballots are counted based on election-day rules by prohibiting the exclusion of valid ballots cast under procedures in place on election day. It requires courts and election officials to apply election rules as they existed on election day, not later changes, and mandates that technical registration errors (like incomplete forms) cannot invalidate a ballot if the voter relied on the process. The bill also creates expedited court procedures for election challenges filed within 90 days before an election or after an election concludes, directing such cases to Wake County Superior Court for faster resolution. This directly affects voters, election officials, and courts by prioritizing ballot integrity based on election-day procedures over post-election interpretations.

Maddy summaryHB 669 establishes a temporary reimbursement program for North Carolina volunteer firefighters, allowing them to be paid back for mileage to emergency scenes and costs of personal equipment used during responses. The program, funded by $1 million for 2025-2026, reimburses at the IRS business mileage rate and covers equipment like safety gear used to secure scenes or treat individuals. Volunteer organizations must collect claims within 60 days, and the Division of Emergency Management will oversee the program until it ends June 30, 2026. A report to lawmakers by that date will evaluate participation and recommend whether to expand or make the program permanent.

Maddy summaryThis bill would regulate hemp-derived consumable products (like edibles, vapes, and beverages) by requiring retailers to obtain permits, limiting THC content to 0.3%, and mandating age verification for all sales. It directly affects vape shops, gas stations, convenience stores, and online sellers currently selling these products to minors. The law creates new enforcement rules for the Commission, requiring proof of age (e.g., driver's license) and banning sales to anyone under 21.

Maddy summaryHB 355 directs North Carolina's Legislative Research Commission (LRC) to study challenges facing rural fire departments, focusing on volunteer recruitment, funding, equipment needs, interdepartmental cooperation, firefighter well-being, and public education. The LRC must examine specific issues like financial incentives for volunteers, equitable resource distribution, mutual aid agreements, and community fire safety programs. It requires regional public hearings and a 90-day comment period before submitting interim and final reports to the 2025 and 2027 General Assemblies. This bill does not change current law but sets up a review process to inform future legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 141, the Joe John Remembrance Act, removes an additional fee for special license plates designated for fire department and rescue squad members in North Carolina. The bill amends state law to formally eliminate the "additional fee" listed for these plates (which was already set to $0 in the current fee schedule), meaning eligible firefighters and rescue personnel will pay only the standard registration fee when obtaining or renewing these special plates. This change applies to plates issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. The bill does not create new benefits but codifies an existing fee structure for these specific special plates.

Maddy summaryThe Transportation for the Future Act reorganizes North Carolina's transportation funding to prioritize sustainable projects like public transit (including bus rapid transit and commuter rail), bike lanes, and pedestrian pathways. It requires at least 20% of transportation funds to be allocated to non-highway projects and caps state funding for commuter rail and light rail at 10% of project costs. The bill establishes three funding categories with project selection criteria emphasizing safety, congestion reduction, economic growth, and multimodal transportation. This change affects statewide transportation planning and funding decisions to modernize the system for future sustainability.

Maddy summaryHB 626, the Housing Choice Act, allows North Carolina municipalities to adopt specific zoning changes to encourage more housing options and qualify for priority water infrastructure funding. Smaller cities (under 100,000 residents) can permit multifamily housing by right in residential zones, waive fees for affordable housing construction, and allow accessory dwelling units. Larger cities (100,000+ residents) must implement minimum density standards, eliminate parking requirements, and permit duplexes/triplexes in single-family zones. Both sizes must preserve existing affordable housing through incentives or funds and adopt zoning that aligns with state housing goals. The bill directly affects local governments seeking to streamline housing development while meeting criteria for state water infrastructure grants.