Sen. Tom McInnis

Maddy summarySB 199 prohibits business entities (like corporations or rental companies) from owning 100 or more single-family homes in qualifying North Carolina counties (population >150,000) for rental purposes. It targets large-scale investors whose buying practices may reduce home availability and increase prices for owner-occupants. Violators face daily fines up to $100 per home and potential civil lawsuits with damages, including up to $50,000 in penalties. The law specifically applies to rental properties, not owner-occupied homes, and excludes government entities.

Maddy summarySB 204 removes standardized testing as a requirement for obtaining or renewing a teaching license in North Carolina. It directly affects all educators applying for teacher licensure (both standard and limited licenses) by eliminating the need to pass standardized exams. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from creating new rules requiring such tests, including for limited licenses (which are for teachers already employed but needing to meet full licensure requirements). This change applies only to new license applications and renewals after the bill takes effect.

Maddy summarySB 195, the "Protect Campus Survivors Act," exempts personally identifiable student disciplinary records at North Carolina's public colleges and universities from being disclosed as public records under state law. It defines these records as any materials containing student identifiers (like names, addresses, or social security numbers) related to disciplinary investigations, making them confidential even if federal law (FERPA) might permit disclosure. This applies to all UNC system institutions, community colleges, and their disciplinary processes. The bill takes effect upon enactment, affecting how schools handle and share such records with the public. It does not change federal privacy rules but ensures these specific records remain private under North Carolina's public records law.

Maddy summarySB 170 requires North Carolina's child welfare system to notify foster parents before a juvenile is placed with a biological parent. Specifically, it mandates that foster parents receive 15 days' written notice of court hearings about placement decisions and at least 48 hours of verbal notice if a child returns to a parent after a permanency hearing. This directly affects foster parents by ensuring they are informed about potential changes in a child's living situation. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include "the person providing care for the juvenile" (i.e., foster parents) as a required recipient of notice, strengthening their role in transition planning. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases North Carolina's income limit for the property tax homestead exclusion for elderly or disabled homeowners from $25,000 to $48,000, effective for taxes due in 2025. It applies to qualifying homeowners whose income would otherwise disqualify them from the exclusion. The new limit will automatically adjust annually based on Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, rounded to the nearest $100. This change directly affects low-to-moderate-income elderly or disabled homeowners seeking property tax relief.

Maddy summarySB 147, titled "Teacher License Reciprocity," changes North Carolina's teacher licensing rules to make it easier for out-of-state educators to work in the state. It prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring teachers licensed in other states to pass a standardized exam for a North Carolina continuing professional teaching license (CPL), provided they have at least three years of teaching experience and are in good standing with their home state. This directly affects educators seeking to move their teaching careers to North Carolina without retaking exams. The bill applies to license applications submitted on or after its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 126 requires North Carolina state agencies to create zero-based budget plans every eight years on a rotating schedule, starting in 2025. Agencies must justify all activities from a "zero" funding baseline (not building on past budgets), detailing current services, minimum service levels, potential impacts of cuts, and program outcomes. The bill specifically excludes statutory appropriations (legally mandated funds) from these plans. It affects all executive branch agencies, with the Department of Health and Human Services divisions first required to submit plans in 2025. This policy mandates agencies to justify each program's necessity and cost-effectiveness before requesting funding.

Maddy summarySB 128, the Heroes Homestead Act, increases the property tax exemption for disabled veterans in North Carolina from $45,000 to $76,500 of a home's appraised value. This change directly affects qualifying disabled veterans who own and occupy their primary residence, providing greater tax relief on their homes. The bill amends North Carolina's property tax law to set the new exclusion amount, effective for taxes due on or after July 1, 2026. It does not apply to other property tax relief programs.

Maddy summarySB 129, the Booking Photograph Privacy Act, prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies from releasing booking photographs - images taken during arrest or jail processing - making them confidential and not public records. The law directly affects individuals arrested and processed by police departments, sheriff's offices, or other law enforcement agencies. It bans publishing, distributing, or releasing these photos except when connected to a missing person report or if a court orders release for immediate law enforcement needs. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 113 creates a new process for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized occupants (squatters) from residential property. Property owners or their authorized representatives must file a sworn affidavit with a court clerk or magistrate, pay a $25 fee, and provide specific details proving the occupant has no legal claim (e.g., no rent paid, not a tenant, and directed to leave). Once the affidavit is processed, local law enforcement must remove the person within 24 hours. This process does not apply to tenants with valid leases or rental agreements.