Sen. Jim Burgin

Maddy summarySB 771 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow North Carolina to provide state funds for restoring privately-owned business buildings damaged by federally declared natural disasters. Currently, the state constitution prohibits such payments under its "emoluments" clause, but this bill would create an exception specifically for disaster recovery. If approved by voters in March 2026, the amendment would permit the state to use funds for rebuilding private structures after events like hurricanes or floods officially labeled major disasters by the federal government. This change directly affects businesses that own property damaged in these events, removing a legal barrier to receiving state disaster relief.

Maddy summarySB 423 (Title Fraud Prevention) requires individuals to present government-issued photo ID, like a driver's license, before recording property deeds or similar documents at the register of deeds office. This applies to regular property buyers/sellers (not trusted submitters like title companies, lawyers, or banks), who must show ID in person or submit a redacted photocopy for electronic filings. The bill also creates a new court process for property owners to quickly remove fraudulent deeds from records after fraud is proven. It directly affects homeowners, real estate buyers, and sellers in North Carolina by adding an ID verification step to property transactions to prevent title fraud. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee as of March 2025.

Maddy summarySB 171 allows licensed psychological associates in North Carolina to practice independently without direct supervision after completing 3,000 hours of supervised experience over 24-60 months. This directly affects psychological associates who meet the experience requirement, reducing regulatory barriers to their practice. The bill amends licensing rules to establish this pathway, requiring an application with proof of experience and granting certification as a "health services provider psychological associate." It also updates board composition rules to ensure balanced representation. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 349 modifies North Carolina's property tax relief program for elderly or disabled homeowners. It changes the income eligibility limit for the homestead exclusion to automatically adjust annually based on Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (rounded to $100), while eliminating the requirement to pay deferred taxes under the property tax homestead circuit breaker. The bill directly affects qualifying homeowners aged 65+ or permanently disabled who own and occupy their primary residence, as it removes the deferred tax liability that previously accrued during eligibility. This change simplifies the program by ending the process where deferred taxes became due upon disqualifying events like property transfer or loss of residency.

Maddy summarySB 336 establishes the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, creating a streamlined pathway for qualified physicians to obtain licenses in multiple participating states. This compact aims to enhance the portability of medical licenses and improve patient access to healthcare by allowing eligible physicians to apply for an "expedited license." To qualify, physicians must meet specific criteria, including holding an unrestricted license in a member state, passing medical exams, completing graduate medical education, and maintaining a clean disciplinary and criminal record. The bill also defines how physicians designate a 'state of principal license' and outlines the role of an Interstate Commission in managing the compact.

Maddy summarySB 345 establishes a "team-based practice" model for Physician Assistants (PAs) in North Carolina. It defines specific requirements for medical practices to qualify as team-based settings, including physician ownership and participation in patient care design. PAs must meet extensive clinical experience criteria to practice in these settings, allowing them to operate with a modified supervision arrangement that emphasizes team collaboration rather than a named supervising physician in some contexts. However, physician supervision is still explicitly required for team-based PAs providing surgical or anesthesia services.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides local boards of education with a new alternative for setting their school calendars, directly affecting public schools and students. It allows schools to start as early as the Monday closest to August 19, provided fall and spring semesters have an equal number of instructional days, and end no later than the Friday before the last Monday in May. The bill also establishes stricter enforcement mechanisms, enabling the State Board of Education to investigate non-compliance and withhold central office administration funds from local boards that fail to follow calendar requirements. Additionally, it permits residents or businesses to file civil actions against non-compliant local boards, potentially leading to court-ordered remedies, attorney's fees, and civil penalties.

Maddy summarySB 357 expands and modernizes collaborative practice agreements between physicians and pharmacists. It allows licensed pharmacists, designated as "clinical pharmacist practitioners," to provide a broader range of "health care services" under a physician's supervision, including modifying drug dosages, ordering tests, and managing drug therapy for patients. These services must be conducted under specific, written collaborative practice agreements and adhere to rules set by the North Carolina Medical Board and Board of Pharmacy. The bill also permits therapeutic drug substitutions by pharmacists with physician authorization and allows for multi-provider collaborative agreements in institutional settings.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 110, titled "North Carolina Work and Save," establishes the North Carolina Small Business Retirement Savings Program. This program aims to help private-sector employees aged 18 and older in North Carolina save for retirement if their employer does not already offer a retirement plan. It enables participating employers to offer a voluntary payroll deduction Individual Retirement Account (IRA) arrangement for their employees. A new North Carolina Small Business Retirement Savings Board would be created to oversee the program and manage its funds through private-sector entities.

Maddy summarySB 369 aims to ensure that certain telehealth providers can enroll as Medicaid providers in North Carolina. The bill specifies that individual health care providers, licensed by the state and offering services exclusively through telemedicine, do not need a physical presence in the state to be eligible for Medicaid enrollment. Additionally, medical provider groups that exclusively offer telemedicine services will not be required to have an in-state service address to enroll as Medicaid provider groups. This measure directly affects telehealth providers and Medicaid recipients by clarifying requirements for remote healthcare services.