Sen. Benton Sawrey

Maddy summarySB 61 prohibits tolls on North Carolina's Interstate 95 for ten years and requires the North Carolina General Assembly to approve any future tolling on this highway. The bill amends state law to explicitly exclude I-95 from tolling authority, preventing the state toll authority from collecting tolls during this period. After the ten-year ban, the General Assembly would need to vote to allow tolls, rather than the authority acting unilaterally. This directly affects drivers using I-95 and the state's process for managing highway funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates North Carolina's automatic expunction laws to streamline how criminal records are cleared when charges are dismissed or result in a not guilty verdict. It establishes a specific timeframe of 180 to 210 days after a case concludes for eligible records to be automatically expunged, while excluding cases involving felony plea agreements. The legislation also clarifies that expunged records remain confidential but allows prosecutors to access them for certain purposes, such as calculating prior record levels or determining habitual offender status, even after the record is sealed from public view. Additionally, the bill extends a temporary pause on automatic expunctions to ensure all eligible dismissed cases from a previous legislative session are processed.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill updates several insurance and property laws while permanently expanding benefits for firefighters. It allows state insurance officials to examine captive insurance companies more frequently and clarifies tax rules for these entities and remote online bidding at foreclosure sales. Additionally, the legislation makes permanent a pilot program for firefighter cancer insurance, increases pension payments for firefighters, and offers an alternative background check process for applicants who have lived in the state for over five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends North Carolina laws to improve how the State Bar handles attorney discipline and grievance complaints. It requires the Bar to provide accused attorneys with full complaint details and evidence at least 30 days before a disciplinary hearing, while also allowing them to present their case directly to the Grievance Committee. The legislation introduces a new "vexatious complainant" designation for individuals who file repetitive or frivolous grievances, which can lead to future complaints being rejected unless verified by a licensed attorney. Additionally, the bill directs the State Bar to adopt rules for expunging certain disciplinary records and ensures that attorneys facing disbarment or long suspensions can appeal to the Court of Appeals.

Maddy summarySB 630 is a procedural bill that has been adopted to formally submit various proposed constitutional amendments to the voters for their consideration. Because the text provided only indicates the bill's adoption status without detailing the specific content of the amendments, it does not describe any new laws, mechanisms, or direct impacts on specific groups at this stage. The bill's primary function is to place these constitutional changes on the ballot for a public vote rather than to enact policy itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new statewide Medicaid plan specifically for children and families, requiring the state to issue a request for proposals to select a provider by December 2024. The legislation defines this new plan as distinct from standard Medicaid plans and allows the state to require automatic enrollment in this specialty plan unless a social services official determines that a different plan is better for the child. Additionally, the bill establishes a closed network of providers for specialized services like residential treatment and intensive in-home care within this new plan, while also clarifying rules about when certain groups can leave their current Medicaid plans and what services must be covered.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the terms of office for specific members of the boards of trustees at several North Carolina community colleges, including Bladen, Cape Fear, Central Carolina, James Sprunt, Johnston, Lenoir, Pitt, and Sandhills. The legislation establishes new start and end dates for trustee positions, often shortening terms to one or two years or extending existing terms to align with future election cycles. Changes apply to trustees appointed by local county boards, county education boards, the governor, or the state legislature, ensuring their service periods expire on June 30 of designated years. By overriding previous laws, the bill creates a structured timeline for when these local and state-appointed officials must step down or seek re-election.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access custom-made investigational drugs, biological products, or devices that have not yet been approved by the federal government. To qualify, a patient must consult with a doctor, confirm that standard treatments are unlikely to help, and provide written informed consent acknowledging the risks and potential costs. The legislation permits manufacturers to offer these treatments for free or at a cost to the patient, while also protecting doctors from disciplinary action for recommending them and shielding the patient's heirs from debt if the patient passes away during treatment. Additionally, the bill clarifies that using these treatments may affect eligibility for hospice care and that health insurance plans are not required to cover the expenses.