Sen. Val Applewhite

Maddy summarySB 698, the "Fair Districts Stronger Democracy Act," would amend the North Carolina Constitution to create an independent redistricting process for state legislative and congressional districts after each federal census. It establishes a North Carolina Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw district lines, removing the General Assembly’s direct role in the process. The bill requires districts to be contiguous, avoid dividing counties where practicable, and ensure equal population representation for both state and federal elections. This change would take effect if approved by voters in the 2026 general election, with districts remaining unchanged until the next census.

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 694 automatically restores driver's licenses in North Carolina after 36 months for individuals whose licenses were revoked solely due to unpaid fines for minor traffic offenses (e.g., speeding tickets), removing a major barrier to employment. This change applies to people who haven’t paid court costs or fines but haven’t committed serious offenses like driving while license revoked. The bill requires the state to notify affected individuals via mail and online about license restoration and appropriates funds for a text reminder system to help prevent missed court dates. Individuals will still owe unpaid fines but no longer face license suspension for nonpayment after the 36-month period.

Maddy summarySB 421, the "Fair and Rehabilitative Prison Labor Act," replaces outdated North Carolina prison labor laws to ensure incarcerated individuals receive fair pay, vocational training, and protections. It requires prison labor programs to pay at least $5 per hour (or state minimum wage for PIECP-certified programs), prioritize job skills for post-release employment, and prohibit using prison labor to displace migrant or seasonal agricultural workers. The bill mandates annual transparency reports on wages, hours worked, and job impacts in agriculture, and requires labor market assessments before agricultural contracts. These changes directly affect incarcerated people in North Carolina prisons, prison labor programs, and agricultural businesses that contract prison labor.

Maddy summarySB 440, the "Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2025," allocates base budget funding for North Carolina's state departments, agencies, and universities for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. It specifies exact funding amounts for all state operations, including $12.94 billion for public instruction, $8.83 billion for health and human services, and $4.24 billion for the University of North Carolina system. The bill directs all state entities to spend within these allocated amounts, with unused funds reverting to the appropriate fund at year-end. As a routine budget measure, it does not create new policies or affect specific groups beyond funding existing state services.

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 438, titled "NC Adopt ERA," is a bill to formally ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution. The ERA, proposed by Congress in 1972, was ratified by 38 states (including Virginia in 2020), meeting the constitutional requirement for three-fourths of states. This bill directs North Carolina to send a certified copy of its ratification to the U.S. Archivist and Congress, completing the state's role in the federal amendment process. If enacted, North Carolina would join the 38 states that have ratified the ERA, which the bill states is now the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Maddy summarySB 409 bans the sale, possession, and transfer of "ghost guns" (unserialized firearms like homemade kits) and "undetectable firearms" (e.g., plastic guns or those avoiding metal detectors). It directly affects most North Carolinians, including gun owners and sellers, with exceptions only for federally licensed firearm manufacturers under ATF rules. The law imposes Class I felony penalties for violations and takes effect December 1, 2025. Key provisions define prohibited items based on federal standards and prohibit all non-licensed activity involving them.

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.

Maddy summarySB 398 bans the possession or carrying of dangerous weapons at North Carolina voting locations, within 100 feet of a polling place entrance, and while in line to vote. It directly affects voters and others near polling sites during voting hours, applying to all weapons defined under existing law (G.S. 14-277.2). The law creates a Class 1 misdemeanor penalty for violations, with an exception for law enforcement officers performing official duties. This bill aims to enhance safety at polling places by restricting weapons in specific proximity to voting areas during active voting periods.