Sen. Gale Adcock

Maddy summaryThe Workforce Act of 2026 allocates state funding to modernize education-to-workforce pathways and improve credit transfer for students in North Carolina. A primary provision directs $3.1 million to the ApprenticeshipNC program to support work-based learning and increase employer participation in apprenticeships. The bill also provides $350,000 to the Department of Commerce to create a list of industry-valued credentials and link them to labor market data such as wages and job placement. Additionally, it increases funding for short-term workforce development grants and requires private colleges to be included in the state's common digital transcript system by March 2027.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill prevents public utilities from disconnecting residential service during declared periods of extreme heat, extreme cold, or poor air quality, requiring instead that customers be offered deferred payment plans. It also allows landlords to restrict tenants from installing portable cooling or air filtration devices only under specific conditions, such as when the device violates safety codes, damages the property, or requires electrical capacity that cannot be provided. Additionally, the legislation defines what constitutes an extreme weather or air quality event based on official alerts from agencies like the National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Maddy summarySB 1045, titled the Utility Profit Oversight Act, requires the North Carolina General Assembly to explicitly approve any proposed electric utility rate increases that would raise the utility's authorized return on equity. Under this bill, the Public Service Commission must immediately suspend such rate changes until the legislature passes a specific act ratifying them, ensuring that significant profit increases receive direct legislative oversight. The legislation also mandates a study by the Commission to evaluate the cost of equity capital for electric utilities in the state. By shifting the approval power for these specific financial adjustments from the regulatory commission to the state legislature, the bill aims to add a layer of political accountability to utility pricing decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows North Carolina residents to install small, portable solar power systems up to 1.92 kilowatts without needing approval or paying fees from their electric utility. To ensure safety, the law requires these devices to have automatic shut-off features during power outages and mandates certification for larger units, while also exempting them from standard net metering programs. Additionally, the bill directs the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors to run a public awareness campaign funded by $100,000 to educate the public on electrical safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the North Carolina Department of Administration's responsibilities for managing state real property and changes how seized vehicles are sold. It requires the department to create a five-year facilities plan to better utilize state-owned buildings and mandates quarterly reports on abandoned or underused properties. Additionally, the bill allows for the expedited sale of seized vehicles with low market value or high storage costs to reduce liability, and it encourages state agencies to use existing state-owned office space instead of leasing new ones.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Nursing Fellows Program at Winston-Salem State University to support students pursuing degrees in nursing or nursing education. The legislation creates a trust fund that provides forgivable loans to high-achieving students who commit to working as nurses or instructors within North Carolina after graduation. Funds from the trust are used to cover tuition and fees, with loan amounts increasing for those who plan to become nursing instructors. The program includes provisions for mentoring, administrative costs, and extracurricular activities to enhance student success.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new advisory council and grant program in North Carolina to support high-quality after-school activities for children and youth up to age 18. It establishes the LEAP Advisory Council to guide the Department of Public Instruction on grant criteria, program quality standards, and strategies to serve rural and underserved communities. The legislation also sets up the LEAP Fund, which will be financed by state appropriations, federal funds, private donations, and any legal settlements against social media companies, to distribute grants to eligible community-based organizations and schools. These grants, limited to a maximum of two years per award, must provide structured programs with adult mentors focused on positive youth development rather than basic classroom instruction. The bill ensures that grant funds supplement existing programs and includes requirements for evaluating outcomes such as attendance, skill development, and community engagement.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines the practice of nursing for advanced practice registered nurses, including nurse practitioners, midwives, anesthetists, and clinical specialists, to clarify their roles in North Carolina. It establishes specific duties for each type of provider, such as diagnosing illnesses, prescribing treatments, and ordering diagnostic tests, while also listing the various patient populations they serve. The legislation aims to remove current legal ambiguities surrounding these roles and align state statutes with the education and training that APRNs have received. By codifying these definitions, the bill seeks to ensure that over 20,000 licensed APRNs can practice to the full extent of their licensure without regulatory barriers.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina legislation allows employees who receive tips to deduct those earnings from their state income tax. The bill amends the state tax code to permit taxpayers to subtract tip amounts reported to their employers from their adjusted gross income. This change applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. By adding this specific category to the list of allowable deductions, the measure reduces the taxable income for workers subject to this reporting requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands North Carolina Medicaid coverage to include doula services during pregnancy and the postpartum period while establishing a licensing system for certified professional midwives and birth centers. To support these changes, the state will seek approval from the federal government to cover doula care, create a new council to oversee midwife licensing, and appropriate funds to reimburse doulas and assist the workforce. The legislation defines specific skills doulas must possess, such as newborn care and cultural awareness, and sets up a regulatory framework that distinguishes licensed midwives from other healthcare providers like nurses and physicians.