Sen. Natalie Murdock

Maddy summaryThe Every School Has Resources Act creates a grant program to help smaller, rural, and lower-wealth school districts in North Carolina hire a Development Director to find outside funding. This position would be responsible for securing money from sources like private foundations and corporate sponsors to reduce reliance on local property taxes and state aid. The program offers full government funding for the first year of the role, but requires the school district to contribute matching funds in the second and third years if the director successfully raises additional money. To qualify, schools must submit a detailed plan showing how they will hire and manage the new staff member, and the state will prioritize applications from districts serving the most economically disadvantaged students. The initiative runs for three years, ending in June 2029, and includes strict reporting rules to ensure taxpayer money is used effectively.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina legislation expands the state's hate crime laws to cover additional protected characteristics, including gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. It increases criminal penalties for offenses motivated by bias and allows victims or their families to file civil lawsuits for damages such as emotional distress. The bill also requires the state to create a hate crimes statistics database and mandates specialized training for law enforcement officers and prosecutors. Finally, it gives courts the option to order convicted offenders to participate in restorative justice sessions with victims at the defendant's cost.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal definition for school resource officers and mandates specific training for them, focusing on mental health, racial equity, and de-escalation techniques. It requires that any complaint about student delinquency filed by a school resource officer must be signed by a school administrator or social worker before it can be sent to juvenile court. To support these changes, the legislation creates a grant program to help schools cover increased salary costs associated with hiring and training officers, with funding prioritized for rural and lower-grade schools. These new requirements and funding provisions are scheduled to take effect starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends North Carolina law governing owners' associations in condominiums and planned communities. It directly affects these associations and their members by setting specific limits on late fees (capping at $20 per month or 10% of an unpaid assessment) and fines (capping at $100), prohibiting managing agents from being paid based on fines collected, and requiring fair procedures for approving unit changes. The bill also mandates prelitigation mediation for disputes between associations and members and requires the Department of Justice to collect and report on related complaints. These changes aim to standardize association practices and provide clearer dispute resolution processes.

Maddy summarySB 402 allows North Carolina lottery winners who claim prizes of $50 million or more to request that their personal identifying information be treated as confidential for 90 days after claiming their prize. This applies to winners of the largest jackpots, such as Powerball or Mega Millions prizes, and does not affect how prizes are paid or distributed. The confidentiality only applies to the winner's identity, not to required disclosures for tax reporting (to North Carolina Department of Revenue, IRS, or state tax authorities), debt collection under state law, or court orders. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, and does not change existing rules for smaller prizes.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 372 is a procedural bill that addresses the confirmation of McKinley Wooten, Jr. as the Secretary of the Department of Revenue. It outlines that the Senate will consider whether to approve the Governor's appointment for this principal State department head position.

Maddy summarySB 519, the "Transportation for the Future Act," reorganizes how North Carolina allocates transportation funds to prioritize sustainable projects like bus rapid transit, commuter rail, and bicycle/pedestrian improvements. It caps state funding for commuter or light rail projects at 10% of either the regional allocation or total project costs, and requires at least 20% of funds to go toward non-highway projects. The bill categorizes projects into "Statewide Strategic," "Regional Impact," and "Division Needs" groups, using specific scoring criteria (e.g., safety, economic growth, multimodal access) to rank and fund them. Local input and federal funding rules are also clarified to ensure transparency in project selection. This directly affects local governments, transit agencies, and communities seeking to build safer, more connected transportation systems.

Maddy summarySB 559 directs North Carolina's Legislative Research Commission (LRC) to study whether state employees should receive bereavement leave. The LRC must examine data from the Office of State Human Resources and report findings with potential legislative proposals to the 2026 General Assembly. The bill appropriates $50,000 from the General Fund to fund this study during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It does not create new leave policies but sets a timeline for research, with the study mandated to begin by July 1, 2025. This is a procedural bill focused solely on gathering information, not implementing changes.

Maddy summarySB 568 establishes the North Carolina Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force to study the potential use of psychedelic medicine for treating mental health conditions. The task force, composed of 12 state agency representatives, mental health advocates, medical experts, and legislative appointees, will assess barriers to access, recommend licensing and insurance requirements, and explore legal pathways - should federal regulations change. It must submit a final report with recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2026. The bill does not legalize psychedelic medicine but prepares for potential future policy changes based on the task force’s findings.

Maddy summarySB 573 updates North Carolina's animal cruelty laws by establishing clear standards for adequate shelter and space for companion animals, directly affecting pet owners and hoarders. The bill defines "adequate shelter" to require protection from extreme weather (e.g., heat above 85°F or cold below 32°F), proper cleaning, and features like resting platforms for dogs and cats. It also sets specific tethering rules, mandating tethers be at least 15 feet long or four times an animal's length (whichever is greater) without causing injury. For individuals convicted of companion animal hoarding (owning 10+ pets without proper care), judges must order psychological evaluations and treatment compliance.