Sen. Tom McInnis

Maddy summarySB 709 reorganizes North Carolina's state investment laws by restructuring existing statutes into a new "2025 State Investment Modernization Act." It creates the North Carolina Investment Authority as an independent state agency within the Treasurer's office, granting it autonomy from budgetary controls by the Treasurer, Budget Director, and Department of Administration. The bill establishes definitions, tax exemptions for the authority, and confidentiality rules for investment negotiations, but does not change investment policies or fund management practices. This is a procedural reorganization of legal structure, not a policy change affecting specific residents or programs.

Maddy summarySB 713 prevents North Carolina local governments (like cities and counties) from creating environmental rules stricter than state or federal law. It requires local ordinances to align with existing state/federal standards, unless the General Assembly specifically authorizes exceptions. Local governments must update all environmental rules by December 1, 2025, to comply, or those rules become invalid. The bill does not affect requirements needed to meet federal permits or National Flood Insurance Program conditions.

Maddy summarySB 758 (Water and Sewer Allocation Reforms) prohibits local governments in North Carolina from imposing unauthorized conditions on water or sewer service for new residential housing projects (single-family or multifamily). It bans requirements like extra fees, design restrictions, or arbitrary scoring systems for allocating service, and mandates quarterly public reports on infrastructure capacity. Local governments receiving public funds must publish capacity data, develop annual expansion plans, and prioritize areas facing imminent shortages. The bill directly affects developers seeking service and local governments managing water/sewer systems, ensuring service allocation is based on available capacity - not arbitrary rules. Violations can trigger court-ordered compliance or fines up to $5,000 per day.

Maddy summarySB 756 allows licensed professional land surveyors in North Carolina to legally enter private property to perform boundary surveys (including locating corners, lines, and easements) without being considered trespassers, provided they notify landowners when possible. It specifically prohibits surveyors from entering critical infrastructure sites (as defined by federal law) or facilities clearly marked as off-limits with fences or signs, and from damaging property without written permission. Landowners must allow access for survey work but are protected from liability for injuries or damage caused by surveyors, unless the landowner intentionally caused harm. The bill clarifies that surveyors cannot enter railroad properties or areas containing critical infrastructure, and requires surveyors to make reasonable efforts to notify adjacent landowners. This directly affects surveyors (granting clearer access rights) and landowners (requiring cooperation for survey purposes while protecting them from unauthorized damage).

Maddy summarySB 471 is a definitional bill that clarifies terms for future pari-mutuel wagering regulations in North Carolina, rather than implementing new policy. It establishes definitions for key concepts like "advance deposit account wagering" (ADW), "legacy track" (a horse track operating for at least 10 years with specific racing requirements), and "geofencing" technology to verify bettors' locations. The bill does not authorize new wagering types or change existing laws; it merely prepares terminology for potential future rules. It directly affects future licensees (e.g., legacy tracks, ADW platforms) and bettors by defining how they will be regulated. This is a procedural step, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summarySB 444 updates North Carolina's Controlled Substances Act by adding specific synthetic drugs to the state's list of prohibited substances. The bill directly affects individuals possessing or distributing the newly listed compounds, including synthetic opioids like AP-237 derivatives, fentanyl analogs (e.g., 4-fluorofentanyl), nitazene derivatives, bromazolam, substituted cathinones, and synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., indole carboxamides). Key provisions explicitly list chemical structures and their salts, isomers, and derivatives to cover emerging substances designed to evade existing laws. This is a procedural update to the schedule, not a new enforcement mechanism. The bill aims to close loopholes by broadly defining prohibited chemical classes.

Maddy summarySB 450, the Novel Opioid Control Act of 2025, updates North Carolina's Controlled Substances Act by adding specific synthetic opioids, fentanyl derivatives, nitazene compounds, and related substances to Schedule I. The bill directly affects individuals or entities producing, distributing, or possessing these newly listed chemicals, including substances like Brorphine, AP-237, and various fentanyl analogs. Its key mechanism bans entire chemical classes - defined by structural characteristics (e.g., substitutions on fentanyl or nitazene molecular frameworks) - rather than listing each compound individually. This prevents legal loopholes for new variants created through minor chemical modifications. The law applies to all such substances unless specifically excepted for medical research or approved pharmaceutical use.

Maddy summarySB 388 establishes strict time limits for North Carolina's Department of Transportation (DOT) to review certain permits, including driveway, encroachment, and subdivision permits. It requires the DOT to notify applicants within 10 business days whether an application is complete or incomplete, and if complete, to issue or deny the permit within 30 calendar days. If the DOT misses these deadlines, the permit is automatically approved. This directly affects property owners, contractors, and developers applying for these specific transportation-related permits. The bill aims to streamline the process by creating clear, enforceable timelines.

Maddy summarySB 470, "End Block Scheduling," limits each class period in North Carolina public schools to no more than 50 minutes of instructional time per day, directly affecting all K-12 public schools and their scheduling practices. The bill requires school calendars to include this 50-minute maximum per class and mandates annual reporting of school start/release times and compliant class schedules to the State Board of Education. It applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, replacing current scheduling flexibility that allows longer class periods. The law aims to standardize daily instructional timing across all public schools.

Maddy summarySB 441 revives and expands a program allowing retired teachers to return to work in high-need North Carolina schools without losing their retirement benefits. The bill requires school districts to certify these teachers to the retirement system annually and mandates monthly reports on their employment terms and pay. Retired educators rehired under this program retain their full retirement allowance, and school districts must cover employer health insurance premiums for them. This directly affects retired teachers returning to high-need schools, school districts hiring them, and the state retirement system’s benefit calculations. The program expires June 30, 2027, unless IRS status is jeopardized, triggering automatic repeal.