Rep. Mary Belk

Maddy summaryHB 869 requires North Carolina state buildings, parking areas, and license plates to use a new "dynamic symbol of access" (a wheelchair icon with a forward-leaning, movement-focused design) instead of the current international symbol of access, effective January 1, 2026. The bill mandates that state agencies implement the new symbol on signs and updates driver’s license tests to require recognition of both symbols. It also specifies that license plates, removable windshield placards, and parking space signs must display the dynamic symbol by the same deadline. The change applies to all new or replaced signage and vehicle markings after 2026, while affirming the new symbol signifies equivalent accessibility standards as the existing symbol.

Maddy summaryHB 842 clarifies that North Carolina public schools may conduct vision, hearing, dental, and developmental screenings for students without requiring parental consent, but must notify parents at the start of each school year about all screenings offered and provide results for their child. This bill directly affects parents of students in public schools across North Carolina, particularly for kindergarten through third grade as noted in the bill text. Key provisions require schools to provide written notice of screenings and results to parents (instead of seeking consent for each screening), while maintaining existing requirements for other health services that do require consent. The law updates school health screening procedures under North Carolina General Statutes § 115C-76.46.

Maddy summaryHB 852, "Safe Dogs, Safe Owners," creates uniform statewide leash laws and requires dog owners to pay for injuries caused when their dog runs unleashed in public and harms a person or domestic animal. The bill defines a dog as "at large" when not under reasonable physical control (e.g., off-leash without sufficient control to prevent an attack) and makes owners strictly liable for resulting damages. It also prohibits allowing dogs over six months old to run unleashed at night without an owner or authorized person present, with violations punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor and liability for damages. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, replacing inconsistent local ordinances.

Maddy summaryHB 879 requires landlords in North Carolina to provide and maintain operable air conditioning in residential rental units that supply AC. It directly affects landlords (who must ensure systems work at the start of each tenancy) and tenants (who gain a right to functional cooling during warm weather). The bill amends landlord obligations to explicitly mandate that air conditioning must cool premises to a reasonable indoor temperature, with repairs required upon written tenant notice (except emergencies). This applies to all new rental agreements and renewals entered into after the law takes effect. The legislation focuses on ensuring basic comfort and safety by making AC a standard maintenance requirement, not a discretionary amenity.

Maddy summaryHB 858 appropriates $74.12 million in one-time state funds for public safety improvements in three North Mecklenburg towns. Davidson receives $20.44 million for a new fire station, emergency vehicles, and police equipment; Cornelius gets $6 million for a public safety facility, updated radios, and pedestrian safety; and Huntersville receives $47.68 million for new firetrucks, breathing apparatus, and construction of a fire station and police facility. The funds must be used strictly for the specified projects outlined in the bill. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 882 requires packaging producers in North Carolina to reduce non-reusable packaging by 10% within two years and 40% by eight years, while ensuring 50% of packaging is recycled within five years and 90% by twelve years. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of packaged goods sold in the state, mandating they join producer responsibility organizations to meet these targets. The bill also bans intentionally added PFAS (forever chemicals) in covered products and requires packaging to include a minimum amount of postconsumer recycled content. These requirements apply to all packaging used for products sold, offered for sale, or distributed in North Carolina, excluding medical packaging and long-term storage materials. The law aims to reduce plastic waste and toxic chemicals in the state's waste stream through measurable, time-bound producer obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 867 creates a permitting program for large dry litter poultry operations in North Carolina (over 30,000 birds), requiring them to obtain permits before operating or expanding waste management systems. It directs the Environmental Review Commission to study the environmental and health impacts of these operations - including nutrient runoff, pathogens, and odor - and recommend regulations. The bill updates waste management plan requirements, mandating 180-day advance permit applications for new or expanded systems. This directly affects the state’s approximately 4,863 dry litter poultry facilities, which collectively handle over 544 million birds annually.

Maddy summaryHB 881 bans the manufacture, use, and distribution of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) in North Carolina, directly affecting businesses that currently use these chemicals in products like firefighting foam, non-stick coatings, or food packaging. The law requires companies discharging wastewater to disclose PFAS and 1,4-dioxane levels and remove them if feasible, while public water systems must notify customers about PFAS detected in drinking water by June 2025. It establishes civil penalties of up to $25,000 for violations, with stricter fines for repeat offenses. The bill focuses on preventing contamination and protecting public health through these concrete regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryHB 871, the North Carolina Microplastics Study Act, directs the North Carolina Collaboratory at UNC Chapel Hill to study the impacts of microplastics (tiny plastic particles 1 nanometer to 5 millimeters in size) in the state’s waters. The bill requires the Collaboratory to identify microplastics, research their ecological and health effects, develop standardized testing methods, and create a risk assessment framework by collaborating with state agencies like the Department of Environmental Quality. The study must produce a comprehensive report with recommendations for reducing plastic pollution, including potential policy changes, by July 2026. The $150,000 allocated funds the research, public engagement, and report development, but the bill itself does not impose new regulations or directly affect businesses or residents.

Maddy summaryHB 861 requires pregnancy centers in North Carolina receiving state funds through the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship (CPCF) to participate in a competitive grant process. It mandates detailed applications covering staff credentials, services offered (including medical testing and ultrasounds), equipment use, and advertising practices, along with annual reporting on client demographics (by age, race, income), services provided, and fund expenditures. The bill sets strict limits on administrative spending (10-15% of funds) and requires all grant funds to be used for nonsectarian purposes only. This directly affects nonprofit pregnancy centers receiving state funding under CPCF, requiring them to disclose operational details and report service outcomes to state agencies.