Sen. Natalie Murdock

Maddy summarySB 719 creates the North Carolina Victims of Crime Assistance (NC VOCA) Fund and a competitive grant program to support victim services. It establishes a fund within the Department of Public Safety, administered by the Governor’s Crime Commission, to award grants (up to $1 million per organization annually) to public agencies or nonprofits providing direct assistance to crime victims. The grants must address victims’ emotional, physical, financial, or safety needs, with recipients required to report on fund usage and victims served. This program is funded partly by increased criminal court fees ($147.50 in district court, $154.50 in superior court), with $0.95 from each fee directed to the fund, directly benefiting victims of crime across North Carolina through eligible service providers.

Maddy summarySB 721 requires North Carolina judges to issue a criminal summons instead of an arrest warrant for criminal charges filed by non-law enforcement individuals (like regular citizens), unless the charge involves domestic violence. Exceptions allow warrants if police confirm the facts, if police investigation would burden the complainant, or if other specified conditions exist. This law directly affects citizens who file criminal charges and changes how such cases are processed. It takes effect October 1, 2025, for all charges filed on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 715 appropriates $500,000 to create a grant program for North Carolina community colleges. The program provides up to $20,000 per college to upgrade equipment and facilities needed to produce student ID cards that meet state voting requirements (G.S. 163-166.16). It directly affects community colleges that lack voter-acceptable student IDs, removing financial barriers to providing these cards. Colleges must submit plans for fund use by August 15, 2025, and the State Board of Elections must approve the IDs before they can be used for voting.

Maddy summarySB 720 revises definitions in North Carolina's public utility law to establish a Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (CEPS). It defines key terms like "clean energy facility," "renewable energy certificate," and "energy efficiency measure" to create a framework for utilities to meet clean energy and efficiency goals. The bill requires electric power suppliers to comply with these standards, protecting ratepayers (utility customers) from unjust or unreasonable fees. This directly affects public utilities, electric power suppliers, and their customers across North Carolina.

Maddy summarySB 718, the "Fair Procurement and Ownership Reform Act," requires North Carolina's major electric utilities to use competitive bidding for all renewable energy sources (including solar, wind, and storage) without mandating utility ownership percentages, affecting utilities, developers, and customers. It eliminates previous rules like the 55% utility ownership requirement for solar projects, allowing third-party developers to compete equally, and reallocates shared solar capacity to 45% for large commercial customers, 25% for small commercial, and 15% each for government and residential users. Utilities must conduct these all-source procurements every two years, using standardized criteria focused on cost, reliability, emissions goals, and transparency, with public reports on bids and outcomes. The bill aims to promote fair competition, faster renewable deployment, and equitable access for all customer types while removing ownership barriers.

Maddy summarySB 716, the Fair Competition Study Act, requires North Carolina's Public Utilities Commission to study whether reforms to the state's energy market could improve competition, meet climate goals, and benefit consumers. The study will evaluate current energy costs and benefits, assess options like a regional energy-sharing system (energy imbalance market) or grid management organization (regional transmission organization), and analyze impacts on rates, environmental quality, economic opportunity, and vulnerable communities. It does not change existing laws but will inform future policy decisions, with a one-year deadline for the Commission to submit findings. The $350,000 study is funded through the state budget and will examine both North Carolina's system and potential regional coordination with South Carolina and the Southeast.

Maddy summarySB 744, the Voucher School Accountability Act, requires nonpublic schools receiving North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship funds to meet new reporting and accountability standards. It mandates annual transparency on tuition fees (capped at 5% annual increases), staff background checks, standardized testing (including ACT for 11th graders), and financial audits for schools receiving over $250,000 in scholarship funds. Schools must also publish student progress data, maintain physical facilities for in-person instruction, and comply with state academic standards. These requirements directly affect participating nonpublic schools and the families using scholarship funds. The bill focuses on enforcing accountability through concrete reporting mechanisms, not changing scholarship eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 735 establishes the North Carolina Artificial Intelligence Innovation Trust Fund to provide grants and financial support for companies developing or deploying AI in key industries, as well as AI entrepreneurship programs through partnerships with research institutions. The fund prohibits spending on projects involving mass surveillance, discriminatory profiling, or deceptive digital content intended for fraud or electoral interference. Funds will come from state appropriations, interest, and other allowable contributions, with the Secretary of Commerce managing disbursements. The bill defines key terms like "covered model" to guide future regulatory frameworks but focuses on funding innovation rather than direct oversight.

Maddy summarySB 750, "Restore the American Dream," aims to address North Carolina's affordable housing shortage by funding the Housing Trust Fund. The bill provides a one-time $30 million allocation for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and establishes recurring revenue streams: 1.5% of property deed fees and 33% of real estate transfer tax proceeds will be directed to the fund. These funds will support affordable housing solutions - including home ownership, rentals, and supportive housing - for over 815,000 North Carolinians lacking access to affordable housing and 930,000 cost-burdened households. The bill seeks to reverse a 68% funding decline in the Housing Trust Fund over the past decade, ensuring sustainable resources for housing development.

Maddy summarySB 747, titled "AI Learning Agenda," creates North Carolina's Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy within the Department of Commerce and establishes an AI Learning Laboratory program. The bill requires state agencies to inventory all AI tools they use or plan to use by 2026, including details on vendor, function, data sources, and risks. Businesses can apply to participate in the Learning Laboratory, where they may receive reduced penalties during testing (called "regulatory mitigation") in exchange for sharing data and findings with the Office. The Office must publish annual reports on AI policy findings and recommend legislation to address regulatory gaps or barriers.