Sen. Gale Adcock

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 486 appropriates $30,000 annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Aging for the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature program during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. This funding directly supports the program, which engages older adults in state legislative processes. The bill provides recurring annual funding without changing program eligibility or services. It becomes effective July 1, 2025. (This is a procedural funding bill, not a policy change.)

Maddy summarySB 497 requires all North Carolina local governments to allow "middle housing" types - including duplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, and similar multi-unit structures - in every residentially zoned area, including zones currently permitting only single-family homes. It prohibits local governments from blocking these housing types through excessive regulations, such as requiring public hearings, restricting building height to less than three stories, or mandating commercial building codes or fire sprinklers. The law also prevents restrictions on long-term rentals and private parking arrangements, while exempting historic districts and requiring existing municipal infrastructure (water/sewer systems) to be available. Local governments must use the same permitting processes for middle housing as for single-family homes, with an 18-month implementation deadline. This bill aims to increase housing options and affordability by expanding where multi-unit housing can be developed without changing zoning maps.

Maddy summarySB 537 defines the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in North Carolina, specifically for nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). The bill provides statutory definitions for each role, detailing permitted activities like diagnosing conditions, prescribing medications, ordering diagnostic tests, and managing patient care within their specialized focus areas. By codifying these definitions in state law, the bill removes longstanding ambiguity about APRN practice that has persisted for decades, as noted by North Carolina courts and the executive branch. This change directly affects over 20,000 APRNs in the state by legally clarifying their scope of practice.

Maddy summarySB 708, the "Working Families Act," directly affects low- and middle-income North Carolina families by reducing child care costs, increasing tax credits, raising wages, and providing housing assistance. It cuts parent copayments for subsidized child care to 7% of gross income (down from 10%), reenacts a refundable child tax credit with income-based payments up to $250 per child, and raises the statewide minimum wage to $15 per hour starting September 1, 2025 - while allowing cities to set higher local rates. The bill also increases income limits for property tax relief and creates a homebuyers' program offering assistance to first-time public servant homebuyers (including teachers, firefighters, police, and EMTs). These changes aim to reduce living costs and support working families through concrete financial adjustments.

Maddy summarySB 714 prohibits corporal punishment (physical punishment) in all North Carolina public schools, making it the first statewide statutory ban despite no current school districts using it. The bill requires schools to report detailed data on any corporal punishment administered - including student race, gender, disability status, and reasons - to the State Board of Education annually. It also mandates parental notification and written explanations for any rare instances where it might still occur, while clarifying that physical restraint under federal law and reasonable force are excluded. The law applies starting the 2025-2026 school year and aligns with existing practices where all 115 school districts already prohibit the practice.

Maddy summarySB 729 clarifies that North Carolina public schools may conduct routine health screenings (such as vision, hearing, dental, and developmental screenings) without parental consent. Schools must still notify parents at the start of each school year about which screenings will be offered and share the results with them. This applies to all public schools in North Carolina and affects parents of students in all grades. The bill specifically excludes these screenings from the parental consent requirement that applies to other health services, while maintaining notice requirements.

Maddy summarySB 752 allows North Carolina schools to use epinephrine nasal spray in addition to auto-injectors for treating severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). The bill requires schools to stock at least two emergency epinephrine products (including nasal spray) in secure but accessible locations, train staff to recognize symptoms and administer treatment, and develop emergency action plans. It applies to all public, charter, and regional schools, directly affecting students with severe allergies and school staff trained to respond to emergencies. The policy change takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 737 requires North Carolina to adjust Medicaid reimbursement rates for licensed ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) to at least 95% of the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Centers fee schedule each year. This directly affects ASCs that treat Medicaid patients by increasing their payments to better align with Medicare rates. The bill provides $6.9 million annually in state funds to match $12.6 million in federal funds for implementation, ensuring the rate adjustments are fully funded. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 659, the "Investing in North Carolina Act," raises salaries for public school teachers and state employees for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It establishes a new monthly salary schedule for teachers based on experience (ranging from $4,600 for 0 years to $6,370 for 29+ years), adds specific supplements for certified teachers, nurses, counselors, and specialists, and provides cost-of-living increases for retirees. The bill also expands the Wage$ program statewide and creates a tax credit for qualifying employers equal to 5% of wages paid or $10,000, whichever is lower. Directly affecting teachers, state employees, community college staff, UNC employees, retirees, and participating employers, it focuses on concrete pay adjustments through funding appropriations.