Sen. Lisa Barnes

Maddy summarySB 1080 proposes a constitutional amendment to cap North Carolina's state income tax rate at a maximum of 3.5%. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, this change would prevent the legislature from raising the income tax rate higher than that threshold in the future. The bill applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and requires a majority vote in favor to become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the North Carolina Constitution to explicitly protect the right of people to farm and practice forestry. The amendment would declare activities such as growing crops, raising livestock, and harvesting timber as essential parts of the state's heritage that must be preserved for the public good. It clarifies that these rights are subject only to laws passed by the state legislature, meaning the change would not override existing regulations but rather affirm the practice of agriculture and forestry. Currently, the bill is in the process of being reviewed by state committees and would be voted on by eligible voters in a statewide election in November 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates state funds to enhance workforce training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in North Carolina community colleges. It establishes a program to offer micro-credentials and on-the-job training, while funding specific roles to connect colleges with business partners and expand career pathways for high school students. Additionally, the legislation directs money toward a study on creating faster routes for apprentices to become teachers and provides resources to implement a secure digital wallet system for managing academic credentials.

Maddy summarySB 316 requires North Carolina hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to publicly disclose detailed pricing information for common medical services, including full charges, negotiated rates, and reimbursements from Medicaid, Medicare, and major insurers. Beginning in 2015, these facilities must submit quarterly reports to the state health department on the 100 most frequent inpatient diagnoses (DRGs) and common surgical/imaging procedures. The data will be made publicly available online, enabling patients and employers to compare costs and make informed healthcare decisions. This bill directly affects healthcare providers by mandating transparency but does not alter insurance coverage or set price limits. Its key mechanism is standardized reporting of pricing data to foster competition and affordability in the healthcare market.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the chair of North Carolina's Environmental Management Commission to hire temporary employees using the state's Temporary Solutions Program. It updates the commission's staffing rules to give the chair more flexibility in acquiring short-term staff while keeping salary and travel expenses under existing state regulations. Additionally, the legislation reduces the recurring annual funding for dedicated commission staff by $5,000 from the state's General Fund. These changes directly affect the commission's administrative operations and its budget allocation for personnel.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric public utilities in North Carolina to submit detailed reports on how well they use their existing power grids. These reports must analyze current performance, explore ways to improve efficiency without building new lines, and outline plans for implementing these improvements. The state's Utilities Commission will review the reports and set specific targets for utilities to meet, while also establishing metrics to measure grid usage. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Commission decide within 240 days how these usage metrics will influence future decisions on approving utility investment costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands tuition waivers at North Carolina community colleges to children of public safety workers who are injured or disabled in the line of duty. It specifically allows children aged 17 to 24 to attend classes for free if their parent is a law enforcement officer, firefighter, volunteer firefighter, or experienced correctional officer with at least 10 years of service. The legislation removes previous time limits on these waivers for community college students, ensuring they can attend for the full duration needed to complete their program. Eligible students must still meet standard admission requirements, and the changes will take effect starting with the 2026-2027 academic year.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to create a special license plate called the 'America's Semiquincentennial' plate. The plate will feature the phrase 'America 250' and other designs to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Any registered vehicle owner in the state will be eligible to purchase this plate starting on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 55 creates a fast-track court process for property owners or their authorized representatives (like real estate brokers) to remove people occupying residential property without legal right, such as squatters. To qualify, the owner must prove the occupant has no lease, hasn't paid rent, and wasn't invited, while excluding tenants who stayed past their lease term. The process requires a hearing within 48 hours of filing, with removal ordered within 4 hours of the court decision. An appeal requires a $10,000 bond and allows a full trial in district court.

Maddy summaryHarrison's Law (SB 375) revises North Carolina's hazing laws and requires public disclosure of school employee compensation. It defines hazing as causing physical or serious psychological harm during school group initiation (e.g., fraternities, sports teams), making student violations a misdemeanor and school staff (like teachers or coaches) violations a felony. The bill also mandates that all public school districts publish on their websites, starting August 15, 2025, detailed information about central office employees - including total compensation (salary, bonuses, travel reimbursements), job titles, descriptions, and position creation dates. This applies to roles like superintendents, directors, and finance officers across all school districts.