Rep. Heather Rhyne

Maddy summaryHB 222 appropriates $217 million from the State Emergency Response Fund to North Carolina's Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) for homeowner recovery projects related to Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. The bill requires NCORR to submit detailed monthly reports on fund usage, including expenditures and project progress, and mandates weekly financial reports to the State Auditor for oversight. It also establishes a public online dashboard tracking funds versus actual spending and includes a clawback provision to return unused funds to the Savings Reserve after projects conclude. The law revises NCORR's responsibilities, ending its role in future storm recovery programs.

Maddy summaryHB 239 modifies North Carolina's funding formula for children with disabilities in public schools. It changes how funds are allocated to local school districts by capping per-child funding at 13% of a district's total enrollment plus students using state scholarship programs. The bill requires the State Education Assistance Authority to provide annual scholarship data by March 15 to help calculate district funding. It also appropriates $25 million in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support this revised funding structure, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 229 adjusts North Carolina's Medicaid reimbursement rates for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), requiring payments to be at least 95% of the current Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Centers fee schedule. This change directly affects ASCs by increasing their Medicaid payments, with the state appropriating $10.476 million annually from the General Fund to cover the cost and match $19.135 million in federal funds each year for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The bill mandates these rate adjustments to take effect on July 1, 2025, ensuring ASCs receive consistent reimbursement aligned with Medicare rates. The legislation focuses solely on establishing the new payment structure and funding mechanism, without altering eligibility or services.

Maddy summaryHJR 157 is a procedural resolution inviting Governor Josh Stein to address a joint session of the North Carolina General Assembly on March 12, 2025. It directs a committee of five House members and five Senate members to extend the invitation and specifies that the governor's cabinet, Council of State members, and state judges may attend. This resolution does not create new policy or affect any laws; it solely schedules a ceremonial address. The invitation is effective upon ratification, as noted in the resolution's text.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Lincoln County Schools and Iredell-Statesville Schools to implement a mandatory 14-day winter break with no instructional days or teacher workdays scheduled. It amends school calendar rules to mandate this break starting in December, while allowing districts to make up weather-related closures during this period if needed. The law applies specifically to these two school systems beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and does not affect other North Carolina schools. It focuses solely on adjusting winter break requirements and opening/closing dates for these districts.

Maddy summaryHB 145 appropriates $50 million in one-time state funds to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) for the development of a diabetes research institute. This bill directly affects UNC-CH as the recipient of the funds and will support diabetes research activities at the university. The funds are designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and become effective July 1, 2025. The legislation is a straightforward funding allocation with no policy changes beyond the specified financial commitment.

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 61 increases penalties for assaulting certain emergency personnel with a firearm in North Carolina. It reclassifies assaults against law enforcement officers, probation/parole officers, National Guard members, detention facility staff, emergency medical technicians, medical responders, firefighters, and law enforcement telecommunicators as a Class B1 felony (instead of Class D) when committed during their duties. The bill specifically targets firearm assaults, making them punishable by more severe prison sentences. This law takes effect December 1, 2025, for offenses occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 60 increases Medicaid dental reimbursement rates from 35% to 46% of average dentist charges (2023 rates) to align with neighboring states. The bill allocates $52 million annually from North Carolina's General Fund, matched by $95 million in federal funds, to cover this rate increase starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects dentists who accept Medicaid patients and Medicaid beneficiaries seeking dental care, aiming to boost provider participation and prevent costly emergency treatments. The change addresses years of stagnant rates that reduced dental provider enrollment in Medicaid.

Maddy summaryHB 41 formally confirms the existing boundary line between Lincoln and Catawba counties that both counties currently use for tax purposes and display on their maps. The bill requires the North Carolina Geodetic Survey to survey and mark this boundary within 42 months at Lincoln County’s expense, and mandates that all future property documents be filed in the correct county based on this line. It ensures records filed before the law’s effective date remain valid in the county where they were originally recorded, while requiring new filings to follow the confirmed boundary. This directly affects property owners, county tax offices, and local government offices handling land records. The law also protects both counties and their officials from legal liability related to the boundary confirmation.