Sen. Amy Galey

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Students First Act, introduces three main changes to North Carolina's education system. First, it protects student privacy by explicitly classifying personally identifiable disciplinary records as confidential, preventing them from being released as public records. Second, it creates a work group to study and plan a transition to a weighted student funding model for K-12 public schools, aiming to increase flexibility and transparency in how schools receive state money. Finally, the bill establishes a pilot program for the 2027-2028 school year that would provide high school students with funds to participate in personalized learning and credit-bearing activities. The legislation also appropriates $300,000 to support the formation of the funding strategy work group.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the requirement for Ambulatory Surgical Facilities and Inpatient Rehabilitation Services to obtain a Certificate of Need before opening or expanding in North Carolina. It directly affects healthcare providers operating these facilities by eliminating a regulatory approval step that previously required state permission for new construction or major expansions. The legislation also allocates funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to help phase out the remaining Certificate of Need laws in the state and updates legal definitions to exclude behavioral health facilities from these review processes.

Maddy summaryThe Foundational Mathematics Act establishes state requirements to improve math proficiency for North Carolina students from kindergarten through eighth grade. It mandates that schools provide at least 60 minutes of daily, evidence-based math instruction and require students to take math assessments three times per year to identify skill gaps. Students who fall below grade level must receive targeted interventions documented in a Mathematics Success Plan, while the state will also create a new program to support artificial intelligence in math instruction.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates state funds to enhance workforce training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in North Carolina community colleges. It establishes a program to offer micro-credentials and on-the-job training, while funding specific roles to connect colleges with business partners and expand career pathways for high school students. Additionally, the legislation directs money toward a study on creating faster routes for apprentices to become teachers and provides resources to implement a secure digital wallet system for managing academic credentials.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the North Carolina Economic Forecasting Initiative within the Kenan-Flagler Business School to collect and analyze county-level economic data. It appropriates $3 million in recurring funds starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support this effort, with the goal of providing policymakers and businesses with data to foster local economic growth. The legislation requires state and local government agencies to cooperate by providing necessary data for accurate forecasting and mandates annual reports to legislative oversight committees beginning in December 2026.

Maddy summarySB 316 requires North Carolina hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to publicly disclose detailed pricing information for common medical services, including full charges, negotiated rates, and reimbursements from Medicaid, Medicare, and major insurers. Beginning in 2015, these facilities must submit quarterly reports to the state health department on the 100 most frequent inpatient diagnoses (DRGs) and common surgical/imaging procedures. The data will be made publicly available online, enabling patients and employers to compare costs and make informed healthcare decisions. This bill directly affects healthcare providers by mandating transparency but does not alter insurance coverage or set price limits. Its key mechanism is standardized reporting of pricing data to foster competition and affordability in the healthcare market.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 229 authorizes and regulates agency contracts between student-athletes and athlete agents for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. The bill amends the existing Uniform Athlete Agents Act to include definitions and provisions specific to NIL contracts. It requires these NIL agency contracts to include details on compensation and services, and mandates a specific warning to student-athletes about consulting their institution and a 14-day cancellation period. The bill also exempts certain NIL contracts from public records requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Workforce Act of 2026 allocates state funding to modernize education-to-workforce pathways and improve credit transfer for students in North Carolina. A primary provision directs $3.1 million to the ApprenticeshipNC program to support work-based learning and increase employer participation in apprenticeships. The bill also provides $350,000 to the Department of Commerce to create a list of industry-valued credentials and link them to labor market data such as wages and job placement. Additionally, it increases funding for short-term workforce development grants and requires private colleges to be included in the state's common digital transcript system by March 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows adults aged 18 and older to carry self-defense devices, such as pepper spray, tasers, and ordinary pocket knives, on the property of North Carolina colleges and universities. It creates an exception to state laws that typically restrict carrying concealed weapons on school grounds, explicitly permitting students, staff, and visitors to possess these items for self-defense. Additionally, the legislation allocates $10,000 to fund public awareness campaigns informing the campus community about this new permission. The changes will take effect in July 2026, with the advertising funds available for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines the practice of nursing for advanced practice registered nurses, including nurse practitioners, midwives, anesthetists, and clinical specialists, to clarify their roles in North Carolina. It establishes specific duties for each type of provider, such as diagnosing illnesses, prescribing treatments, and ordering diagnostic tests, while also listing the various patient populations they serve. The legislation aims to remove current legal ambiguities surrounding these roles and align state statutes with the education and training that APRNs have received. By codifying these definitions, the bill seeks to ensure that over 20,000 licensed APRNs can practice to the full extent of their licensure without regulatory barriers.