Sen. Natalie Murdock

Maddy summarySB 331 clarifies that documents created by legislative staff at a lawmaker's request (such as draft bills, analyses, or committee materials) are not public records until specific conditions are met, including being introduced as a bill, distributed at a public committee meeting, or otherwise formally shared through legislative processes. The bill explicitly states that these documents remain confidential until they meet one of these conditions, reversing prior exceptions that allowed broader confidentiality. This change directly affects public access to legislative staff work products by defining clear circumstances under which such materials must become available. It does not require immediate public release but sets concrete criteria for when documents transition from confidential to public records.

Maddy summarySB 352 allocates $2.5 million annually from 2025-2027 to fund grants for nonprofit community health centers in North Carolina. These grants will allow centers to purchase and provide long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as IUDs or implants, to underserved, uninsured, or medically indigent patients. LARCs must meet specific criteria: they provide extended birth control without daily user action, are temporary, FDA-approved, and require a prescription. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, focusing on expanding access to affordable, long-term contraceptive options.

Maddy summarySB 343, the "Secure Home, Secure Future Act," creates a new property tax relief program for qualifying North Carolina homeowners. It allows owners who have lived in and owned their primary residence for 15 consecutive years to cap annual property tax increases at 2% of the prior year’s tax amount (or the prior year’s tax, whichever is higher), deferring the difference as a lien on the property. To qualify, owners must be North Carolina residents, occupy the home as their permanent residence, and notify tax assessors of property improvements. The relief ends if the owner sells the home (unless transferred to a spouse/co-owner who continues living there), dies (if passed to a spouse/co-owner), or stops using it as a primary residence.

Maddy summarySB 348, the "Home Comfort Act," provides $7 million annually for home modifications (like ramps, grab bars, and widened doorways) to help seniors aged 65+ with household incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty level safely age in place. It also allocates $42.25 million yearly to expand in-home care services, including home health agency support and a $500 monthly stipend for family caregivers meeting income criteria. The bill funds a statewide resource guide and online portal to help seniors access aging-in-place programs, with priority given to rural communities. These provisions directly affect eligible seniors and their caregivers through concrete financial assistance and service expansions.

Maddy summarySB 347 allows North Carolina legislators experiencing childbirth, adoption, stillbirth, or miscarriage (a "triggering event") to vote remotely via a designated proxy. A legislator must file a written "voting designation" with the clerk, appoint a party leader as their proxy, and access real-time session streams. The proxy must vote in the chamber after over half the chamber has voted, and the arrangement lasts up to 16 weeks. This policy change enables legislators to fulfill constitutional voting duties while caring for newborns or managing family events, without altering voting outcomes or other legislative processes.

Maddy summarySB 354 reenacts North Carolina’s Research and Development (R&D) tax credit with updated eligibility rules, primarily affecting small businesses conducting qualified research in the state. To qualify, businesses must meet specific wage standards (e.g., paying at least 90% of county average wages in certain areas), provide health insurance covering 50% of premiums for full-time employees, maintain environmental and safety compliance, and have no overdue tax debts. The credit applies to expenses for research performed in North Carolina, including costs paid to state universities for research. This bill modifies existing rules to tighten eligibility while maintaining the credit for qualifying small businesses through 2040.

Maddy summarySB 353, the Second Chance Coding Act, requires North Carolina's Division of Juvenile Justice to create a program teaching coding and computer skills to juveniles in youth development centers. The program must include specialized courses, industry certification opportunities, and workforce connections like mentorship and job placement to help these youth transition into careers after release. Implemented by January 1, 2026, with $250,000 in funding for 2025-2026, the bill aims to reduce recidivism by improving job prospects. It directly affects youth committed to juvenile facilities, focusing on concrete skill-building rather than speculative outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 350, the Marijuana Justice and Reinvestment Act, would legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older in North Carolina, allowing possession of up to 2 ounces of cannabis, 15 grams of concentrate, or products containing no more than 2,000mg THC. It establishes a regulatory framework requiring licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, and retail sales, with mandatory lab testing, potency labeling, and restrictions on advertising. The bill directly affects North Carolina residents over 21, cannabis businesses, and communities disproportionately impacted by past cannabis prohibition - addressing the ACLU finding that Black individuals were 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for possession than white individuals despite similar usage rates. Key provisions include creating three funds to reinvest tax revenue into affected communities for substance abuse treatment, education, and business support, while requiring licensed businesses to prioritize diversity, fair wages, and community investment.

Maddy summarySB 351, the Right to Start Act, allows new businesses (corporations, S corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other entities) less than five years old with under $5,000 in net income to defer their state income tax payment for one year. It also requires state agencies to prioritize contracting with businesses operating under five years and mandates the Department of Administration to collect and report annual data on these contracts, including demographic and geographic breakdowns. The bill directly affects small, newly formed businesses seeking tax relief and state procurement decisions. Key provisions include the tax deferral eligibility criteria and the data collection/reporting requirements for state contracts.

Maddy summarySB 324, the 2025 Safe Drinking Water Act, requires North Carolina's Commission for Public Health to establish safe limits for harmful chemicals in drinking water by October 2025. It directly affects all North Carolina residents by mandating maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for specific toxins like PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, hexavalent chromium, and 1,4-Dioxane - chemicals linked to cancer or serious health risks. The bill directs the Commission to base these limits on scientific evidence from other states and federal agencies, ensuring protections for vulnerable groups like children and pregnant people, while aligning with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. The law also requires annual reviews to update these limits as new health science becomes available.