Sen. Sophia Chitlik

Maddy summaryThis bill requires North Carolina public schools to create policies limiting the use of wireless devices like phones and tablets during instructional time. It mandates that students in kindergarten through fifth grade cannot use any such devices in classrooms, while older students face stricter limits on device usage and access to non-instructional content like social media. To support these restrictions, the legislation appropriates funds to hire one teacher assistant for every classroom serving students in grades K through five. Additionally, the law grants parents the right to opt out of their children being issued wireless devices by the school and ensures that printed materials are used for instruction in elementary and middle schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new advisory council and grant program in North Carolina to support high-quality after-school activities for children and youth up to age 18. It establishes the LEAP Advisory Council to guide the Department of Public Instruction on grant criteria, program quality standards, and strategies to serve rural and underserved communities. The legislation also sets up the LEAP Fund, which will be financed by state appropriations, federal funds, private donations, and any legal settlements against social media companies, to distribute grants to eligible community-based organizations and schools. These grants, limited to a maximum of two years per award, must provide structured programs with adult mentors focused on positive youth development rather than basic classroom instruction. The bill ensures that grant funds supplement existing programs and includes requirements for evaluating outcomes such as attendance, skill development, and community engagement.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina legislation allows employees who receive tips to deduct those earnings from their state income tax. The bill amends the state tax code to permit taxpayers to subtract tip amounts reported to their employers from their adjusted gross income. This change applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. By adding this specific category to the list of allowable deductions, the measure reduces the taxable income for workers subject to this reporting requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands North Carolina Medicaid coverage to include doula services during pregnancy and the postpartum period while establishing a licensing system for certified professional midwives and birth centers. To support these changes, the state will seek approval from the federal government to cover doula care, create a new council to oversee midwife licensing, and appropriate funds to reimburse doulas and assist the workforce. The legislation defines specific skills doulas must possess, such as newborn care and cultural awareness, and sets up a regulatory framework that distinguishes licensed midwives from other healthcare providers like nurses and physicians.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill prohibits charter schools from being managed by for-profit organizations, restricting them to nonprofit management instead. It also mandates that students in remote charter academies take state-mandated tests in person with a social worker present and limits the renewal terms for these remote schools to one year. Additionally, the legislation requires annual financial audits for remote charters and bars renewal for any remote academy deemed low-performing. To support affected families, the bill allocates funding for coaches to assist with school transitions and to establish the new in-person testing program.

Maddy summarySB 946, titled the Keep Our Schools Standing Bond Act of 2026, proposes to issue up to $50 billion in state bonds to fund public school construction, repairs, renovations, and security improvements in North Carolina. The funds would be distributed as grants to counties through the Department of Public Instruction, while excluding expenses for salaries, trailers, and administrative buildings. This legislation requires approval from North Carolina voters via a special election before the State Treasurer can issue the bonds.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that all public schools in North Carolina, including charter and laboratory schools, provide free breakfast and lunch to every student starting in the 2026-2027 school year. To support this requirement, the state will allocate $116 million from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction, with additional flexibility to use existing state aid if necessary. The legislation outlines specific criteria for distributing these funds, such as school size, the number of eligible students, and the quality of food provided, while ensuring that state money supplements rather than replaces other funding sources.

Maddy summaryThis bill introduces a new 7% state income tax specifically on earnings that exceed $1 million. The revenue generated from this tax, after deducting administrative costs, will be sent directly to the Public School Fund to support local schools. The law applies to individual taxpayers and is scheduled to take effect for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 960 increases the funding cap for North Carolina public schools serving students with disabilities from 13% to 16% of a district's student population. The bill also creates a new High-Cost Disabilities Support Fund to provide extra reimbursement for students requiring intensive and specialized services. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, the state will allocate approximately $97.8 million in recurring funds to help districts meet these obligations without diverting money from general classroom instruction.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands tuition waivers at North Carolina community colleges to children of public safety workers who are injured or disabled in the line of duty. It specifically allows children aged 17 to 24 to attend classes for free if their parent is a law enforcement officer, firefighter, volunteer firefighter, or experienced correctional officer with at least 10 years of service. The legislation removes previous time limits on these waivers for community college students, ensuring they can attend for the full duration needed to complete their program. Eligible students must still meet standard admission requirements, and the changes will take effect starting with the 2026-2027 academic year.