Sen. Danny Britt

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to repeal North Carolina's Certificate of Need (CON) laws, which currently require healthcare providers to obtain state approval for certain projects. These projects include building new facilities, expanding existing services, or acquiring major medical equipment. By eliminating these requirements, the bill would remove a regulatory step for various healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and diagnostic centers, looking to establish or grow their operations. The bill achieves this by amending several state statutes to remove references to the Certificate of Need process.

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 summaryThis bill amends North Carolina law to strengthen property rights for landowners regarding recreational activities. It requires written permission (signed, dated within 12 months, and carried on person) for hunting, fishing, or trapping on private land, with fines of $500 for first offenses on posted property and $1,000 for repeat violations. Landowners can also prohibit pine straw harvesting without written consent, creating a Class 1 misdemeanor for unauthorized removal. Repeat trespass offenses trigger license suspensions for hunting/fishing, and new rules ban launching watercraft from public roadways into waterways. The law directly affects hunters, fishers, landowners, and pine straw harvesters.

Maddy summarySB 361, the "Protecting First Responders Act," increases criminal penalties for assaulting or exposing emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and other first responders to fentanyl or harmful substances. It criminalizes intentionally exposing these responders to fentanyl (a Class H felony) or causing serious injury through such exposure (Class G felony), and imposes a Class I felony for failing to warn responders about fentanyl at a scene. The bill appropriates $10.35 million in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide bulletproof vests ($8.1 million) and bulletproof backpack plates ($2.25 million) to paramedics and EMTs through grants. These provisions apply to first responders registered with North Carolina’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, with funding effective July 1, 2025, and criminal provisions effective December 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 364 changes retirement rules for retired Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) and Assistant Public Defenders (APDs) in North Carolina. It reduces the required separation period from state employment before returning to work from six months to 30 days. This means retired ADAs and APDs can rejoin state positions after a 30-day break, rather than waiting six months like other state retirees. The bill directly affects these specific retired legal professionals who wish to return to state service.

Maddy summarySB 666 creates a $56 million PFAS Mitigation Fund to help local water and wastewater systems address PFAS contamination through grants for testing, treatment upgrades, and emergency response. It sets strict drinking water limits (e.g., 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS) and requires the state to adopt science-based PFAS discharge limits for industries by October 2025, including source reduction plans and pretreatment technology. The bill also allocates $14 million for research on PFAS detection, health impacts, and removal technologies through UNC’s Collaboratory. These provisions directly affect public water systems, industrial dischargers, and communities facing PFAS contamination in water sources.

Maddy summarySB 702 modifies North Carolina's bail bond laws, primarily updating procedures for setting aside bond forfeitures. It directly affects bail bond companies (sureties) and defendants by adding specific circumstances under which a forfeiture can be overturned, such as if the defendant was incarcerated in a jail or prison during the period of failure to appear. Key provisions require bail bond companies to provide documented proof (like prison records or court documents) to the district attorney within 10 days of the defendant's incarceration, and mandate that the district attorney must be notified of the incarceration while the defendant remains detained. The bill also clarifies that forfeitures can be set aside only for these explicitly listed reasons, not other circumstances. This streamlines the process for bond companies seeking to avoid financial liability when defendants miss court due to legitimate incarceration.

Maddy summarySB 701 allows North Carolina state and local law enforcement officers with at least 30 years of service to continue receiving retirement benefits while remaining actively employed. Specifically, officers aged 59.5 or older can elect to receive their retirement allowance without separating from their current law enforcement position. The bill requires employers to cover both employee and employer retirement contributions during this period, while prohibiting additional service credit accrual or eligibility for disability/supplemental retirement benefits. This policy directly affects qualifying officers who wish to stay on duty while maintaining their retirement income.

Maddy summarySB 703 updates North Carolina's workers' compensation benefits for specific injuries by establishing automatic annual increases tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It raises maximum compensation amounts for facial/head disfigurement (from $20,000 to $56,000), bodily disfigurement (from $10,000 to $28,000), and organ loss (from $20,000 to $56,000). These increases, effective July 1, 2026, will adjust each year based on positive CPI changes from the prior year, rounded to the nearest dollar. The bill directly affects workers injured in ways covered under the schedule of injuries, ensuring compensation keeps pace with inflation.

Maddy summarySB 704, the "Ronnie Long No Cap Act," removes the $750,000 cap on compensation for exonerees in North Carolina, replacing it with $50,000 per year of wrongful imprisonment. It also requires the state to seek federal approval for Medicaid coverage without income or asset limits for exonerees and mandates the Department of Adult Correction to provide tailored transition services (including housing and employment support) with a $25,000 per person spending limit. The bill directly affects individuals exonerated after wrongful convictions, such as Ronnie Long (44 years incarcerated), by expanding financial compensation, healthcare access, and reintegration support. These provisions apply to exonerees released after the bill's effective date, with compensation retroactive for living individuals.