Rep. Gloristine Brown

Maddy summaryHB 131 reinstates a 35% tax credit for businesses and homeowners who install solar energy systems in North Carolina. Businesses can claim the credit over five years (with a $2.5 million maximum per installation), while homeowners receive capped credits based on system type (e.g., $1,400 for water heating, $3,500 for space heating). The credit applies to equipment placed in service in the state and expires for new installations after 2017, though projects meeting 2015 construction milestones qualify for extension. This bill renews a previously expired tax incentive program for solar energy adoption.

Maddy summaryHB 129, the "Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Judicial Elections Act," reestablishes nonpartisan elections for all North Carolina judicial offices, including Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and superior and district court judges. The bill requires candidates to run without party labels, with primaries held only when more than two candidates file for an office, and winners elected based on highest vote totals (using a random draw only in tie situations). It also restores public financing for judicial campaigns, aiming to reduce partisan influence in judicial races. This bill directly affects judicial candidates, voters, and the election process for all statewide and local judicial positions in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 128 appropriates $2 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to create a statewide prostate cancer screening program administered by North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services. The program provides free or low-cost screenings and follow-up care to uninsured or underinsured men aged 50-70 (40-70 with family history of prostate cancer) who meet income requirements (below 250% of federal poverty level). Eligibility requires no Medicare Part B or Medicaid coverage and specific age/family history criteria as defined in the bill. The program begins July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 115 exempts properly licensed child care facilities from property tax if they are used exclusively for child care. It applies to facilities operating under North Carolina's child care licensing rules (Chapter 110) and excludes both the building and necessary adjacent land from taxation. Partial exemptions are allowed if only part of a facility serves child care, but facilities on probation or with suspended licenses lose the exemption. The tax exemption takes effect for property taxes due on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 109 reclassifies strangulation-related assaults in North Carolina by increasing penalties based on the severity of injury. It creates three felony tiers: a Class F felony for assaults causing serious bodily injury (like permanent disfigurement or coma), a Class H G felony for strangulation causing physical injury, and a Class H felony for any strangulation assault. The bill defines "serious bodily injury" and "strangulation" to clarify legal standards for prosecutors and courts. It applies to offenses committed on or after June 1, 2025, directly affecting individuals convicted of strangulation assaults.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes repealing a literacy test requirement from the North Carolina Constitution, which would affect all voters by removing a historical barrier to voting. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election, with the ballot explicitly stating: "Constitutional amendment to remove the literacy test requirement... The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits implementation of this requirement." If approved, the change takes effect upon certification by the State Board of Elections. The bill does not alter current voting procedures, as the literacy test has been prohibited by federal law since 1965.

Maddy summaryHB 84 restricts the sale and use of neonicotinoid pesticides (honeybee-killing chemicals like imidacloprid) in North Carolina. It bans retail sales to the general public, allowing only licensed pesticide applicators or farmers using them for crop production to purchase these chemicals. The law also requires the state pesticide board to monitor federal EPA assessments of these pesticides and study whether to regulate seeds treated with systemic insecticides. These changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 78 prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement activities - such as arrests or warrant service - in places of religious worship (churches, synagogues, etc.), elementary/secondary schools, and hospitals. The bill makes any agreements with ICE that violate this prohibition void and could lead to suspension or loss of law enforcement certification for officers who ignore the ban. It explicitly states that state law enforcement may still enforce North Carolina’s laws as usual, but not for immigration enforcement in these protected locations. The bill applies to all current and future law enforcement agreements involving ICE.

Maddy summaryHB 88 allows Wilson County Schools to set an earlier student opening date (as early as August 19, instead of the standard August 26) if the district demonstrates "good cause," defined as having averaged eight emergency closure days per year due to weather, power issues, or other emergencies over the last decade. The bill specifically modifies calendar rules for Wilson County Schools only, applying to the 2025-2026 school year. It maintains the standard closing date (June 11) but permits local adjustments to meet instructional day requirements. The legislation does not change statewide calendar rules for other school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 77 requires North Carolina state agencies to evaluate the cumulative environmental impact of proposed permits on minority and low-income communities before approving them. It directly affects developers seeking permits for mining, solid waste facilities, hazardous waste sites, and other projects, as well as the communities near these sites. Key provisions mandate that agencies deny permits if proposed actions would disproportionately harm these communities when considering existing pollution sources in the area, and require detailed impact analyses in all relevant reports and plans. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to pending permit applications on that date.