Sen. Bobby Hanig

Maddy summarySB 540 increases funding for small county school systems in North Carolina by revising their supplemental allotment schedule. It provides higher base funding amounts based on student enrollment (e.g., counties with 0-1,300 students receive $1.82 million annually instead of prior rates), directly affecting small school districts with under 3,300 students. The bill appropriates $20,961,180 in recurring funds from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement these changes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, ensuring increased per-student funding for eligible small county school systems.

Maddy summarySB 478 allows banks in North Carolina to deduct income tax on interest, fees, and penalties from loans secured by agricultural land, as defined by state law. This tax deduction applies to loans specifically backed by farmland, directly benefiting banks that provide such financing. The policy change takes effect for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. The bill does not directly affect farmers or landowners but alters tax treatment for financial institutions offering agricultural loans.

Maddy summarySB 486 appropriates $30,000 annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Aging for the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature program during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. This funding directly supports the program, which engages older adults in state legislative processes. The bill provides recurring annual funding without changing program eligibility or services. It becomes effective July 1, 2025. (This is a procedural funding bill, not a policy change.)

Maddy summarySB 548 requires North Carolina law enforcement officers (LEOs) to report observed excessive force or improper activity within 72 hours to a superior officer, and prohibits retaliation against LEOs for making such reports. The bill explicitly states that officers cannot be terminated, disciplined, or retaliated against for reporting, though disciplinary action for unrelated misconduct prior to the report remains permitted. It also makes knowingly false reports a Class 2 misdemeanor and extends protection to officers disclosing any violation of law, rule, or regulation to supervisors or government agencies. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, applying to reports made on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 504, the North Carolina Farmland and Military Protection Act, prohibits foreign governments designated as "adversarial" by the U.S. Department of State from purchasing, leasing, or holding interests in agricultural land or land within 75 miles of military installations in North Carolina. The bill defines agricultural land broadly (excluding small research leases under 250 acres) and specifically lists military sites like Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Any violation would void the transfer, and the law takes effect on December 1, 2025. This directly affects adversarial foreign governments seeking to acquire such land, aiming to protect food production and military security.

Maddy summarySB 642, the SAVE Students Act, requires all North Carolina public school students in grades 6-12 to receive two hours annually of evidence-based training on suicide/violence prevention and social inclusion. The training, approved by the Department of Public Instruction, covers identifying warning signs, accessing mental health resources, and fostering peer connections. School staff with regular student contact must also complete one hour of annual suicide/violence prevention training. Schools may use assemblies, digital tools, or other methods for delivery, and parents can opt students out. The bill also mandates school mental health plans and allows student-led suicide prevention clubs.

Maddy summarySB 701 allows North Carolina state and local law enforcement officers with at least 30 years of service to continue receiving retirement benefits while remaining actively employed. Specifically, officers aged 59.5 or older can elect to receive their retirement allowance without separating from their current law enforcement position. The bill requires employers to cover both employee and employer retirement contributions during this period, while prohibiting additional service credit accrual or eligibility for disability/supplemental retirement benefits. This policy directly affects qualifying officers who wish to stay on duty while maintaining their retirement income.

Maddy summarySB 739 appropriates $6 million in nonrecurring state funds for Hyde County to purchase property specifically for oyster farming. The bill directs this grant to be managed by Hyde County in collaboration with the North Carolina Marine Industrial Park Authority. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and solely provides funding for property acquisition - no policy changes or regulations are introduced. This is a straightforward funding measure targeting Hyde County's oyster farming sector.

Maddy summarySB 734 clarifies that specific man-made ditches - such as roadside ditches, culverts, and storm channels - are excluded from North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA). The bill defines "man-made ditches" in Section 1 and explicitly removes them from CAMA's coverage of estuarine waters, environmental concern areas, and public trust rights under Sections 2, 3, and 4. This means landowners and developers maintaining these ditches will no longer require CAMA permits for them. The bill focuses on clarifying existing law rather than creating new regulations. It directly affects activities involving minor drainage features in coastal zones.

Maddy summarySB 757, the North Carolina Consumer Privacy Act, gives residents the right to access, correct, or delete personal data collected by businesses operating in the state. It requires businesses to stop processing data when consumers request it, with key exceptions for health information (covered under existing health privacy rules) and publicly available data. The law applies to businesses that collect personal data about North Carolina residents, defining "personal data" as information that can identify an individual (like name or online activity), while excluding health data processed under healthcare laws. Enforcement would be handled by the North Carolina Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division, with specific rules for how businesses must handle consumer requests. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Rules committee.