Sen. Benton Sawrey

Maddy summarySB 177 expands North Carolina's Medicaid Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP) to include qualifying freestanding psychiatric hospitals, allowing them to receive increased reimbursements for services. The bill creates a new assessment (a fee) on these hospitals, calculated as a percentage of their hospital costs, to fund the program. To implement this, the state must seek federal approval from CMS to include psychiatric hospitals in HASP. This change directly affects all Medicare-certified, state-licensed freestanding psychiatric hospitals in North Carolina, requiring them to pay the new assessment while gaining eligibility for enhanced Medicaid payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 488) changes North Carolina's process for establishing paternity for children born to unmarried parents. It requires unmarried mothers and fathers to complete a specific affidavit to have the father's name added to a birth certificate, including sworn statements, plain-language explanations of parental rights, and social security numbers. The affidavit must be filed with the state registrar, but it does not automatically grant inheritance rights - those require separate filing with the court under G.S. 29-19. The bill directly affects unmarried parents seeking to establish paternity on birth certificates and state officials processing birth records. It clarifies that the birth certificate process and inheritance rights are separate legal matters.

Maddy summarySB 474, the DAVE Act, creates a new Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency within North Carolina's State Auditor's office. It requires all state agencies to report by October 2025 on how they spend public funds and list vacant positions held for six months or longer, including reasons for vacancies. The Division will assess whether agencies or specific positions remain necessary, using AI tools to analyze spending effectiveness, duplication, and budget use. By December 2025, the Division must recommend to the legislature which agencies or positions should be eliminated based on this review.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new chapter in North Carolina law to modernize and simplify the state's human resources system for employees in state agencies and universities. It creates a decentralized system under the Governor's direction where agency heads are responsible for managing their own personnel, while the Office of State Human Resources provides oversight. The legislation sets core principles for the workforce, including equal opportunity, fair compensation, and clear accountability, and it defines specific categories of employees such as career and temporary staff. Additionally, the bill appropriates funds to support these modernization efforts and clarifies the roles of various government bodies within the new framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "Truth in Taxation," requires local taxing authorities in North Carolina to follow a specific process before raising property tax rates above a revenue-neutral level during years when a general reappraisal of real property occurs. To implement this change, the governing body must publish public notices in newspapers and online, send direct mail to taxpayers detailing the proposed tax increase, and hold a dedicated public hearing where a majority vote is required to approve the higher rate. If a local government fails to comply with these procedures and collects excess taxes, the bill mandates that they refund the overage to affected property owners. Additionally, the legislation increases the late reinstatement fee for expired real estate appraiser trainee registrations, licenses, and certificates to $12 per month, up from $10.

Maddy summarySB 227 prohibits North Carolina public schools from teaching or promoting 12 specific "divisive concepts" defined in the bill, such as claims that one race is inherently superior or that individuals bear responsibility for past actions of their race. The bill directly affects K-12 students, teachers, and school employees by banning instruction on these concepts and restricting professional development that includes them. Key provisions include requiring schools to avoid "discriminatory practices" and preventing staff from being compelled to affirm divisive concepts. The bill does not ban all diversity initiatives but targets specific teachings it deems contrary to "equality and rights of all persons." This is a proposed bill (not yet law) currently under review in the North Carolina Senate.

Maddy summarySB 153, the North Carolina Border Protection Act, requires state law enforcement and correctional facilities to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. It mandates that state employees determine the immigration status of people in custody, report non-citizens to ICE, and enter into 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow designated officers to enforce immigration laws under ICE supervision. The bill also prohibits UNC constituent institutions from adopting sanctuary policies. These provisions directly affect state departments of Public Safety and Adult Correction, as well as UNC universities. The bill does not change existing federal immigration law but requires state agencies to align their practices with federal enforcement priorities.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 280, the "Private School Security Act," allows certain individuals to carry weapons on specific educational properties under defined conditions. It permits employees and volunteers of private schools to carry firearms or stun guns on school property if authorized by the school's board or director, provided they hold a concealed handgun permit and complete annual advanced gun safety training. Private schools must also adopt and annually distribute written standard operating procedures for weapon possession to parents. Additionally, the bill allows individuals with concealed handgun permits to carry their weapons in places of religious worship located on educational property while attending worship services or other religious functions.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reduce redundant inspections for adult care homes in North Carolina by allowing one recent, passed inspection to count for multiple similar checks within a three-month window. It directly affects adult care facilities, state health regulators, and local agencies that currently conduct overlapping safety and facility reviews. Under the new rules, if a home has already passed an inspection by the state's Adult Care Licensure Section, other state or local inspectors must accept those results instead of performing their own separate evaluations. The legislation also allocates $100,000 in state funds to support this streamlined process, with the changes taking effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the duties and operational rules for North Carolina's Office of the State Auditor to enhance its oversight capabilities. It allows the Auditor to charge fees for specific financial audits and grants the office authority to contract with federal agencies for auditing state-managed federal programs. Additionally, the legislation enables the Auditor to collaborate with district attorneys and the State Bureau of Investigation to pursue criminal matters arising from audits and to hire specialized contractors for Medicaid provider reviews. The bill also requires state agencies to obtain the Auditor's approval before entering into contracts that could affect the state's financial reports.