Sen. Jim Burgin

Maddy summarySB 396 creates a new pathway for physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants to obtain a North Carolina medical license through "endorsement," allowing them to practice in the state if they hold an active license in another U.S. jurisdiction for at least five years (with two years of post-residency practice for physicians). Applicants must provide employer verification of a full-time job offer in North Carolina, proof of good standing with no recent disciplinary actions, and documentation of active practice (averaging 20+ hours weekly). The bill also establishes higher application fees for endorsement pathways (e.g., $825 for physicians vs. $400 for standard applications) and requires licensees to submit additional documentation within 120 days to keep their endorsement license active. This bill directly affects out-of-state medical professionals seeking to practice in North Carolina.

Maddy summarySB 415 requires all medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals (like radiographers, sonographers, and radiation therapists) to hold a state license before performing procedures on patients. It mandates that these professionals complete approved education and pass examinations to demonstrate competence, directly affecting healthcare facilities that employ them and the professionals themselves. The bill establishes a new "Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Board of Examiners" to oversee licensing, replacing voluntary certification with a standardized state requirement. Facilities must ensure staff are licensed, and unlicensed individuals cannot perform these procedures or imply they are qualified. This aims to enhance patient safety by ensuring only trained personnel handle imaging equipment and radiation therapy.

Maddy summarySB 410 allows hospitals in North Carolina to ask a court for permission to discharge adult patients (18+) who cannot make or communicate health decisions, when no authorized person (like a family member or legal guardian) will consent to the discharge. Hospitals must first get written agreement from two licensed doctors that the discharge is medically appropriate, and wait five business days after that agreement before filing the court petition. The court must rule on the petition within five business days. This bill directly affects hospitals, incapacitated adult patients, and their authorized decision-makers by creating a new court process for discharge decisions.

Maddy summarySB 388 establishes strict time limits for North Carolina's Department of Transportation (DOT) to review certain permits, including driveway, encroachment, and subdivision permits. It requires the DOT to notify applicants within 10 business days whether an application is complete or incomplete, and if complete, to issue or deny the permit within 30 calendar days. If the DOT misses these deadlines, the permit is automatically approved. This directly affects property owners, contractors, and developers applying for these specific transportation-related permits. The bill aims to streamline the process by creating clear, enforceable timelines.

Maddy summarySB 422 modifies North Carolina's licensure rules for marriage and family therapists, primarily affecting out-of-state therapists seeking to practice in the state. It requires applicants from other states to have held an unrestricted license for five continuous years, pass a North Carolina law exam, and have no unresolved complaints. The bill also adds a new requirement for criminal history background checks for all licensure applicants. These changes apply to new applications starting October 1, 2025, and aim to standardize licensing across jurisdictions.

Maddy summarySB 470, "End Block Scheduling," limits each class period in North Carolina public schools to no more than 50 minutes of instructional time per day, directly affecting all K-12 public schools and their scheduling practices. The bill requires school calendars to include this 50-minute maximum per class and mandates annual reporting of school start/release times and compliant class schedules to the State Board of Education. It applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, replacing current scheduling flexibility that allows longer class periods. The law aims to standardize daily instructional timing across all public schools.

Maddy summarySB 414 allows licensed pharmacists (specifically clinical pharmacist practitioners) to test for and treat certain conditions like influenza, COVID-19, and strep throat using FDA-approved CLIA-waived tests, without requiring a physician referral. It mandates that health insurers cover these pharmacist-provided services at the same level as services from other healthcare providers, if performed within the pharmacist’s scope of practice. The bill prohibits pharmacists from treating conditions with controlled substances (Schedules I-IV) and requires statewide protocols for implementation by October 1, 2025. This directly affects pharmacists, patients seeking these specific services, and health insurers across North Carolina.

Maddy summarySB 420 redirects funds previously allocated for lottery advertising toward foster care programs. The bill eliminates the Lottery Commission’s authority to spend public funds on advertising (as specified in revised G.S. 18C-130(e)) and instead requires those monies to be added to the existing $30 million annual allocation for foster care under G.S. 18C-163(3)(b). This policy change directly affects North Carolina’s foster care system by increasing its funding stream without creating new revenue. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not alter other lottery advertising rules or responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 412 increases North Carolina's childcare subsidy rates to the 75th percentile of typical market rates starting July 2025, with an additional 10% boost for rural counties and infant/toddler care (birth to 3 years). It allocates $123.5 million annually for 2025-2027 to fund these rate increases for childcare centers and homes. The bill also provides $8 million for a two-year pilot program in western NC regions impacted by Hurricane Helene, managed by regional councils to recruit new childcare providers and establish mentorship for sustainability. The pilot will track new childcare centers, family homes, and slots created across five designated regions, with progress reports required for oversight.

Maddy summarySB 419 restores local governments' authority to down-zone (reduce density) in their communities by repealing a previous restriction (Section 3K.1 of S.L. 2024-57). This directly affects cities and counties, allowing them to adopt zoning changes that limit building density or height, such as converting high-density zones to lower-density uses. The bill applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, meaning any zoning ordinances affected by the repealed law are treated as valid from that date. It does not create new zoning rules but returns discretion to local governments that was previously restricted.