Sen. Sophia Chitlik

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $319 million from the state's General Fund to North Carolina's Medicaid program to cover anticipated changes in enrollment, service costs, and federal funding rates. The money is designated for the Department of Health and Human Services to use starting in the 2025-2027 fiscal year, with the funding officially beginning retroactively on July 1, 2025. By adjusting available funds based on projected healthcare shifts, the legislation aims to ensure the Medicaid program has sufficient resources to operate as demographics and costs evolve.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill requires that the salaries of state legislators be held in escrow if the General Assembly does not pass a budget by June 30, 2026. If the Senate and House do not ratify a state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by that deadline, the pay earned by legislators from July 1, 2026, forward will be withheld. The withheld funds will be released only after the legislature ratifies a budget or adjourns for the year. The legislation also sets aside ten thousand dollars to cover the administrative costs of managing the escrow account.

Maddy summarySB 1053 modifies how North Carolina handles criminal penalties for child care licensing violations by reducing the charge from a Class I felony to a Class A1 misdemeanor for first-time offenses, provided no child injury occurred. The bill allows prosecutors to still pursue felony charges for repeat offenders or cases involving multiple children, but requires them to consider specific factors like the number of children at risk and whether the operator took corrective action. To support these changes, the legislation allocates $75,000 to update enforcement protocols, training materials, and court forms for relevant state agencies and legal personnel.

Maddy summarySB 1054, titled "No Child Left Unfed," directs the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to allow legally operating family, friend, and neighbor child care providers to participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. The bill requires the state to take administrative steps such as identifying sponsoring organizations, simplifying application processes, and seeking federal waivers to reduce barriers for these small-scale caregivers. To support this expansion, the legislation appropriates $150,000 for initial planning and outreach, along with $500,000 in recurring funds to cover ongoing administrative costs. Additionally, the bill mandates that the department submit annual reports on enrollment numbers and barriers faced by providers, with an initial report due within 12 months of the law's effective date.

Maddy summaryThe Allergy Safe Schools Act aims to improve food allergy safety in North Carolina public schools by mandating that every school employ at least one full-time, permanent nurse. To support this staffing requirement, the bill allocates $92 million in recurring funds starting in the 2026-2027 school year to increase the number of school health personnel. Additionally, the legislation requires school staff to complete standardized training on recognizing and treating anaphylaxis and mandates that schools create individualized medical action plans for students with diagnosed medical emergencies. The bill also prohibits food at school celebrations and provides legal protections for employees who administer emergency medication or perform lifesaving duties in good faith.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a previous law that expanded cooperation between local jails and federal immigration enforcement and requires a judicial warrant based on probable cause before federal agents can arrest, search, or detain individuals within North Carolina. It also prohibits state and local facilities from holding people solely on immigration detainers beyond their scheduled release time and allows local law enforcement to decline cooperation with federal immigration requests. To support these changes, the legislation appropriates four million dollars to fund legal services for immigrants, specifically directing grants to four nonprofit organizations for representation, asylum applications, and community legal education. The measures are designed to increase transparency in enforcement actions and restore community trust by limiting the use of administrative warrants and ensuring access to legal counsel.

Maddy summarySB 1018, known as the HEAL Act, establishes a funding program in North Carolina to support three-year research studies on psychedelic drugs like MDMA and psilocybin. The bill directs up to five competitive grants of at least one million dollars each to federal or academic institutions located in the state, focusing on treating trauma-related mental health conditions in specific groups such as military veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. To oversee this initiative, the legislation creates a Breakthrough Therapies Task Force composed of state officials, medical experts, tribal representatives, and legislators to assess the potential use of these medicines and recommend future regulations. All funded research must be conducted within North Carolina, adhere to federal laws, and include measurements of pain levels alongside mental health outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Midwifery Education Grant Program to increase the number of midwives in North Carolina by funding training programs at specific University of North Carolina institutions. It provides up to $20 million in state funds to support eligible universities that offer advanced nursing degrees but currently lack certified nurse-midwife training programs. To receive grants, institutions must partner with a hospital, submit a budget, and commit to graduating at least 20 midwives within five years, with priority given to historically black colleges and universities. The legislation appropriates $4 million per institution and requires the university system to report on grant usage and program timelines to state oversight committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to conduct a study on the feasibility and potential impacts of adopting a statewide year-round school calendar. The study will examine various factors, including student learning outcomes, summer learning loss, testing schedules, community college enrollment, tourism revenue, and building usage. The department must complete its analysis and submit a report with any proposed legislation to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by February 1, 2027. To fund this research, the bill appropriates $50,000 from the General Fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects the right of homeowners and tenants in North Carolina to operate licensed family child care homes by preventing restrictions from private and public entities. It makes it illegal for homeowners associations to ban or penalize child care operations and voids any lease clauses that prevent tenants from running such businesses. Additionally, the law requires local governments to treat licensed child care homes as standard residential properties, ensuring they are not subjected to stricter zoning rules or special permits than other homes. If these rules are violated, licensed operators can seek legal relief and recover legal fees, while landlords and associations remain responsible for enforcing general safety and maintenance standards.