Sen. Lisa Grafstein

Maddy summarySB 510 exempts menstrual products like tampons, sanitary napkins, panty liners, and menstrual cups from North Carolina's sales tax. The bill amends state tax law (G.S. 105-164.13) to specifically include these products in the list of tax-exempt items, effective October 1, 2025. It directly affects all consumers purchasing these products in North Carolina, removing a sales tax burden. The change applies to all retailers selling these items in the state, with no additional requirements or mechanisms beyond the tax code update. This is a straightforward policy change focusing on reducing costs for menstrual product buyers.

Maddy summarySB 553, titled "Save More Tatas Act," requires health insurance plans in North Carolina to cover diagnostic breast cancer imaging (such as ultrasounds and MRIs) with the same cost-sharing (like copays and deductibles) as routine mammograms, directly affecting women needing these services. It updates mammogram coverage rules to include annual screenings for high-risk individuals (e.g., those with a family history of breast cancer or dense breast tissue) and mandates that facilities meet accreditation standards. The bill also appropriates $3.6 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support mammography services in rural areas and for the State Health Plan. This legislation aims to improve access to breast cancer diagnostic care without increasing patient out-of-pocket costs.

Maddy summarySB 607, the North Carolina Equal Pay Act, prohibits employers from paying employees differently based on gender for work requiring similar skill, effort, and responsibility under comparable conditions. It defines "comparable work" broadly (excluding job titles alone) and allows pay differences only for factors like seniority, merit, geographic location, or job-related education/experience. The bill also bans employers from asking about salary history before making a job offer, protects employees who discuss pay or file complaints from retaliation, and requires employers to post notices about these rights. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and would allow employees to seek back pay for violations.

Maddy summarySB 480 establishes North Carolina's first state-run paid family leave program, effective January 1, 2026. It provides eligible workers - such as employees meeting wage criteria or self-employed individuals who opt in - with up to 26 weeks of paid leave per year to care for a newborn, adoptive child, or family member with a serious health condition, or for military family leave needs. Benefits are capped at 12 weeks for most family-related reasons (like newborn care), 18 weeks for personal serious health conditions, and 26 weeks for military family leave. The program is funded through employee payroll contributions and administered by the Division of Employment Security, with specific eligibility requirements defined in the bill.

Maddy summarySB 571 (MOMnibus 3.0) establishes a North Carolina grant program to address racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, specifically targeting Black women. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants (between $10,000 and $50,000) to community-based organizations serving Black women in areas with high maternal health disparities. Grants prioritize organizations led by Black women that provide evidence-based services, including culturally respectful care, mental health support, assistance with social determinants like housing and transportation, and doula support. The program mandates technical assistance for grantees and annual reports to the legislature on funding and outcomes. This bill directly affects Black women in North Carolina and community health organizations providing maternal care services.

Maddy summarySB 529, the Second Chance Success Act, eliminates the ability to extend probation solely due to failure to pay a $40 monthly supervision fee. It directly affects individuals on supervised probation in North Carolina who might have faced extended probation terms for nonpayment. The bill modifies probation rules to state that a probation term cannot be extended if nonpayment of the fee is the only reason, though the fee itself remains required (with court exemptions possible for good cause). Fees collected still go to the county clerk and then the state's General Fund, but probation officers can no longer use nonpayment as grounds for extending probation.

Maddy summarySB 541, the Train Infrastructure Acceleration Act, allocates $1 million in additional state funding for each of seven specific train routes in North Carolina to support engineering studies and feasibility work. The bill directly affects the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), which must use these funds for projects like the Asheville-Salisbury line and the Charlotte-Washington, D.C. corridor, alongside existing routes. Key provisions include requiring annual reports on fund usage and progress by December 1 each year, and appropriating $7 million total from the General Fund. The act focuses on advancing preliminary planning, not construction, to strengthen federal partnerships and secure future rail development. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 532, the "Preserving Competition in Healthcare Act," requires hospitals in North Carolina to notify state auditors, the attorney general, and the state treasurer before selling or merging more than half their assets (valued at $5 million or more). This applies to hospital entities and their potential buyers, such as larger healthcare systems, aiming to prevent anti-competitive consolidation. The state agencies must review these transactions within 60 days (extendable by 30 days) to decide whether to approve them or object. Routine transactions not affecting competition can be exempted through a written waiver from the three state officials.

Maddy summarySB 511 requires all North Carolina public schools (K-12) to teach informational literacy, defined as skills to find, evaluate, and use information effectively - including digital, media, and technological literacy. The bill mandates the State Board of Education to create age-appropriate standards covering research processes, source evaluation (primary vs. secondary), fact vs. opinion, ethical information use, and access to library resources. Schools must develop curriculum in consultation with library/media staff and implement it starting in the 2025-2026 school year. This policy directly affects every public school student and educator in North Carolina through mandated curriculum changes.

Maddy summarySB 633 prohibits individuals convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence offense from buying or owning firearms. It requires universal background checks for all firearm sales (including private transactions) and mandates that parents/guardians certify safe firearm storage for students in public schools. The bill also reinstates North Carolina’s pistol permit law. These provisions directly affect firearm sellers, private sellers, and people with domestic violence misdemeanor convictions, aiming to restrict firearm access for specific high-risk groups. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, for new offenses.