Rep. Dudley Greene

Maddy summaryHB 935 prevents county election boards from using fire or emergency response agency properties as polling places if doing so would interfere with emergency services. It requires the fire chief to determine that the property's use as a polling site would hinder emergency response, appeal to the county commissioners, and have the commissioners rule in favor of the fire chief's objection. This law directly affects fire departments and election officials by creating a formal process to protect emergency facilities from being requisitioned for voting purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 890 requires North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction to create an Emergency Internet Service Plan (EISP) ensuring public schools can access temporary internet during state emergencies, like natural disasters. The bill establishes a dedicated Emergency Internet Service Fund with $3.9 million in initial funding for equipment and service contracts, which schools cannot be charged to activate. Key provisions include requiring the plan to cover activation conditions, equipment needs, data protection, and third-party partnerships, while ensuring the fund is nonreverting (unused money carries over). This directly affects all public school units by guaranteeing emergency internet access without requiring school-level funding. The plan must be updated annually and reported to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 354 requires courts in North Carolina to block filings by individuals declared legally incompetent by a court unless submitted through their guardian or attorney. It mandates courts to strike non-compliant filings and issue "gatekeeper orders" to prevent unauthorized submissions. The bill also creates a centralized database for courts to quickly identify individuals with such court declarations. This applies to all civil cases filed or pending after December 1, 2025, directly affecting people declared legally incompetent and their legal representatives.

Maddy summaryHB 853 requires individuals whose driver's licenses were revoked to display a special, differently colored license plate on all vehicles they operate after their license is restored. This applies to people with restored licenses following revocation (for seven years if also subject to other restrictions, or three years otherwise) and those granted limited driving privileges. The special plate must be a distinct, easily identifiable color, with a $10 annual fee added to registration, and drivers cannot obscure it. Violating this requirement results in an additional one-year license revocation. The bill directly affects individuals with restored licenses or limited driving privileges in North Carolina.

Maddy summaryHB 753 allows eligible North Carolina law enforcement officers aged 59.5 or older to continue receiving retirement benefits while remaining actively employed. Retired officers who separated from service for at least six months may return to duty and retain their retirement benefits. The bill requires employers to cover both employee and employer retirement contributions during this period and clarifies that beneficiaries remain eligible for death benefits under specific conditions. It directly affects current and retired state/local law enforcement officers meeting age and service criteria.

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 638 requires new data centers and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to pay fees covering the cost of additional reliable power needed to support their electricity demand. Specifically, it mandates fees on new EV/PHEV charging stations and EVs sold in North Carolina, with funds dedicated solely to building new dispatchable power sources (like natural gas or coal plants) instead of raising all customers' bills. Data centers must either contract directly with utilities for new power or face recoupment of state incentives if they fail to secure it. The law aims to prevent grid strain by ensuring those driving new demand - data centers and EV users - bear the cost of infrastructure upgrades.

Maddy summaryHR 563 adopts the permanent rules for the North Carolina House of Representatives during the 2025 Regular Session. These rules establish procedural guidelines including session hours (e.g., no Friday sessions in January and February, adjournment by 10:00 PM on Mondays and 9:00 PM on other days), quorum requirements, and the order of business for legislative proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 16 requires the North Carolina General Assembly to display the national motto "In God We Trust" directly above and behind the dais for the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, aligning with the U.S. House of Representatives' display. The bill mandates the Legislative Services Officer to implement this, first using private gifts or donations for costs, and if none are provided within 90 days, using state funds. It becomes effective July 1, 2025. This is a procedural bill affecting legislative chamber decor, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 514 defines the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in North Carolina, including nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). The bill explicitly outlines the specific responsibilities for each role - such as CNMs managing reproductive health care, NPs diagnosing and treating illnesses, and CRNAs administering anesthesia - removing ambiguity in current law. It directly affects over 20,000 APRNs in North Carolina who currently face restrictions due to undefined practice parameters. The legislation aims to align North Carolina with 36 other states that have clarified APRN authority without compromising patient safety, as supported by research cited in the bill. This statutory definition is intended to improve healthcare access and reduce costs by enabling APRNs to practice to the full extent of their training.