Rep. Nasif Majeed

Maddy summaryHB 248 exempts owner-occupied single-family homes in North Carolina from live/work building code requirements when used for permitted home-based businesses. It defines "home business use" as owner-operated activities incidental to residential living (e.g., consulting, crafts), requiring the owner to reside there, comply with local zoning, and not lease the business space. The bill prevents local governments from reclassifying these homes as commercial or mixed-use solely due to the home business, ensuring they remain subject only to standard single-family dwelling building codes. It does not override private HOA restrictions or exempt businesses from other state/federal licenses, safety rules, or local zoning prohibitions.

Maddy summaryHB 249 allocates $10,112 to North Carolina State University for a Wake County pilot program to increase diversity in pickleball, specifically targeting underrepresented communities of color. The program requires focus groups with people of color, branded marketing materials, two 4-week sessions at Raleigh recreation centers (Method Road and Chavis) in fall 2025 and spring 2026, and a post-program toolkit for wider community use. It directly affects residents in Wake County by creating accessible pickleball opportunities through public recreation facilities. The bill focuses on concrete steps to address current underrepresentation in the sport, leveraging its low-cost, inclusive nature. Funds are restricted to these specific activities and do not revert.

Maddy summaryHB 256 repeals North Carolina's current ban on public employee collective bargaining, allowing state and local government workers (like teachers, police, and administrative staff) to negotiate wages and working conditions with their employers. The bill removes existing legal restrictions (Article 12 of Chapter 95) and explicitly states that public employees' bargaining rights apply to all state and local government employers. It does not create new benefits or funding but aligns public sector bargaining rights with those already available to private sector employees. The bill’s key provision is the repeal of the prohibition, enabling public employees to collectively bargain under existing state law.

Maddy summaryHB 215 requires the Charlotte Firefighters' Retirement System to maintain data breach and cyber liability insurance specifically covering participants and beneficiaries. It mandates that annual reports to the City Council include details about any data breaches affecting the system, including incident costs and response steps. The bill directly affects current and future firefighters who participate in the retirement system by adding transparency and financial safeguards for their personal data. These provisions update existing system rules to address modern cybersecurity risks without changing benefit calculations or eligibility.

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 summaryHB 130 establishes a $475 million program to provide financial assistance to North Carolina farmers who suffered crop losses from natural disasters in 2024. It directly affects farmers in counties designated by the USDA as disaster areas, requiring verified losses of eligible agricultural commodities (like crops, livestock, or specialty plants) planted but not harvested by January 1, 2024. The program uses county and state yield/price averages to calculate payments, mandates submission of USDA Form 578 or equivalent documentation within 30 days, and allocates funds from state reserves (Stabilization, IT, and Economic Development) to cover verified losses. Farmers must provide documentation for verification, and the Department of Agriculture may audit claims to ensure proper use of funds, with refunds required for inaccurate information.

Maddy summaryHB 203, the Home Warranty Act, regulates home service agreements (commonly called home warranties) sold to North Carolina consumers. It requires companies to clearly list covered items, detail exclusions in bold, provide cancellation rights with pro-rata refunds, and maintain an updated vendor list. The bill mandates repairs for critical systems (like heating or bathroom fixtures) within five business days or cover out-of-network service. It does not apply to manufacturer warranties, appliance dealers selling their own agreements, or builder warranties. This directly affects home warranty companies and consumers purchasing these agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 202, the "Defense Against Porch Pirates Act," creates a new criminal offense for stealing delivered packages or mail. It defines "mail" broadly to include packages and valuable items left for delivery, making it illegal to unlawfully take or control such items with intent to deprive the owner or benefit unauthorized people. The law sets tiered penalties: Class A1 misdemeanors for first-time, low-value thefts ($200 or less), and escalating to Class E or D felonies for higher-value items ($200+), repeat offenses, or thefts exceeding $2,000. This directly affects individuals who steal deliveries and provides law enforcement with a specific legal tool to address package theft.

Maddy summaryHB 207 removes legal barriers preventing workers from organizing or joining labor unions in North Carolina. It prohibits employers from requiring union membership, dues, or non-membership as a condition of employment or continued work for any employee, including public employees. The bill also invalidates agreements that tie agricultural contracts or litigation terms to union status and allows workers to seek legal damages if denied employment due to these violations. These changes apply to all new employment agreements entered into after the law takes effect, strengthening existing labor protections under North Carolina law.

Maddy summaryHB 197 appropriates $25 million annually for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years to North Carolina's local health departments (LHDs) for communicable disease programs. The funding aims to address a 70% staff shortage in LHDs by enabling them to retain existing staff, hire additional public health professionals (including nurses), and expand essential services. Funds are allocated with half distributed equally among LHDs based on the number of counties served, and half distributed based on the percentage of state population each LHD serves. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, to support North Carolina's response to diseases like avian flu and mpox.