Sen. Terence Everitt

Maddy summarySB 646 prohibits individuals convicted of specific January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection-related offenses (including federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1752 or 40 U.S.C. § 5104) or found to have engaged in "infamous or disgraceful conduct" related to disrupting democratic processes from working in North Carolina state government, including universities and community colleges. The bill applies to all state employees and contractors hired on or after July 1, 2025, with due process protections requiring written notice, evidence disclosure, and a hearing opportunity before denial or termination. It directly affects individuals with convictions or findings related to the Capitol events, excluding pardoned individuals and requiring clear evidence for "infamous conduct" determinations. The law becomes effective July 1, 2025, for all new and existing employment decisions.

Maddy summarySB 677 requires North Carolina to use state-owned property for childcare centers benefiting state employees and first responders. It mandates that new or renovated state buildings over $5 million with more than 250 workers include childcare or adult care centers, unless costs exceed 10% or delay projects by six months. The bill creates a $5 million pilot program to establish three onsite childcare centers for state employees using underutilized state property, prioritizing providers with fewer than five facilities and requiring apprenticeship partnerships with colleges. It also allocates $6 million for county grants to fund third-shift childcare for first responders in unused county buildings and directs community colleges and UNC system schools to study feasibility of onsite childcare programs by March 2026.

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 722 creates the Online Safety Division within North Carolina’s Department of Justice, the Cyberbullying Unit at the State Bureau of Investigation, and an Online Child Safety Commission. It directly affects major digital platforms with over 5 million users in North Carolina and $25 million in annual revenue, requiring them to implement parental notification systems, disable manipulative design features ("dark patterns"), and provide robust privacy tools for children. Platforms must submit annual Child Impact Assessments detailing risks to minors, limit data collection for children, prohibit targeted advertising, and default to strict privacy settings. The law authorizes civil penalties of up to $500,000 per violation for noncompliance, with funding of $5 million for 2025-2026 allocated to establish these new state units.

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 753, the NC Highway Patrol Retention Act, provides funding for pay raises for all North Carolina State Highway Patrol officers starting July 1, 2025. It appropriates $40.48 million annually from the General Fund to implement new salary schedules based on years of experience (e.g., $56,000 for new officers, $105,000 for 8+ years) and rank (e.g., $120,750 for Sergeant, $224,612 for Colonel). The bill directly affects all sworn Highway Patrol members by establishing fixed pay scales for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The changes aim to improve retention through structured compensation increases without altering existing law enforcement duties or responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 483, "The Children First Act," expands affordable child care access for North Carolina families by increasing financial assistance eligibility to 85% of the state median income and raising subsidy rates to match 2023 market costs. It allocates $50 million annually for subsidies and $15 million for grants to establish new child care facilities in rural or underserved areas, targeting "child care deserts." The bill also creates an employer child care credit and includes workforce licensing reforms to address staffing shortages. These provisions directly affect low-to-moderate-income families, child care providers, and employers seeking to support working parents.

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.

Maddy summarySB 611 allows drivers with non-REAL ID compliant licenses in North Carolina to renew their licenses remotely two times in a row. After two consecutive remote renewals, these licenses must be renewed in person. The bill applies only to licenses that do not meet federal REAL ID standards (required for certain federal purposes like air travel) and does not affect REAL ID-compliant licenses, which still require an in-person renewal after a remote one. The change takes effect January 1, 2026, for all renewals on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 313 establishes a $15 million grant program to support small North Carolina farmers with annual gross cash farm income under $1 million. The program provides financial assistance for essential farm inputs, equipment, and operational improvements to eligible farmers who meet income and residency requirements. Grants will be prioritized based on financial hardship, need, and farm size, with the Department of Agriculture administering the fund and an advisory committee monitoring effectiveness. This act directly affects small-scale farmers seeking to improve their operational viability through targeted financial support.