Sen. Michael Garrett

Maddy summarySB 653, titled "Polluter Pays," requires companies or entities causing water or air pollution to cover cleanup costs and provide alternative water supplies to affected residents. It amends environmental laws to let the state’s Commission order polluters to pay for investigations, cleanup, and temporary or permanent replacement water systems (including whole-house filtration for households) when pollution endangers health or safety. The Commission can enforce these orders through civil lawsuits if polluters refuse payment, and must provide affected residents with water solutions within specified timeframes. This directly affects polluting businesses and residents whose water or air quality is harmed by pollution.

Maddy summarySB 644 allocates $1.5 billion to North Carolina public schools for energy efficiency upgrades, solar panel installations, and replacing combustion-powered school buses with electric models. The bill provides specific funding: $1 billion for building improvements like high-efficiency lighting and HVAC upgrades, $250 million for solar panels on school rooftops, and $250 million to replace qualifying buses (over 10 years old and using motor fuel) with electric buses assembled in North Carolina. These changes directly affect all local school districts through funding tied to student enrollment, aiming to reduce energy costs and emissions. The program begins July 1, 2025, with concrete, measurable infrastructure changes as the core mechanism.

Maddy summarySB 645, "The Protect Our Schools Act," requires North Carolina's Department of Transportation to identify "school walk zones" near schools with high pedestrian traffic and set lower speed limits (minimum 20 mph) in those areas during school hours. It increases penalties for speeding in school zones (a $250 fine) or causing injury to a minor (a misdemeanor charge), applying to both public and private schools. The bill creates a $10 million Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Fund to support zone assessments, crosswalk guard training, and public awareness campaigns about school zone safety. These changes directly affect drivers, students, and school communities by strengthening traffic safety measures around schools. The law takes effect on December 1, 2025, with fund allocations beginning July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 647, the Child Promise Act, allocates $90.25 million to expand North Carolina's Pre-K program to 10,000 new slots by 2027, serving 4-year-olds from families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL). It provides $6.8 million annually in grants for childcare facilities in underserved areas (where child-to-provider ratios exceed 3:1), with funding levels based on facility size (up to $500,000 for large centers) and requiring a 15% match and 5-year service commitment. The bill also funds after-school programs in high-need public schools (over 50% free/reduced lunch students) for 3 hours daily, adjusts childcare subsidies to cover up to 300% FPL for children under 5, and creates a $1,500 tax deduction per child for families earning 300-400% FPL.

Maddy summarySB 651, "The Hustle Act," establishes North Carolina's Small Business Capital Access Act to improve financing for underserved small businesses and Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). It creates a new Office of Small Business Capital Access within the Department of Commerce and a 11-member Oversight Board to manage a program offering loan guarantees (up to 90% for MWBEs, 80% for others), direct investments, and technical assistance. The program targets businesses headquartered in North Carolina, operating for at least one year, with demonstrated growth potential but denied traditional financing, prioritizing those in low-income or rural communities. Key provisions include requiring qualified lenders (like community banks and CDFIs) to provide loans covered by state guarantees, with funds directed toward business expansion, equipment, or working capital.

Maddy summarySB 646 prohibits individuals convicted of specific January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection-related offenses (including federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1752 or 40 U.S.C. § 5104) or found to have engaged in "infamous or disgraceful conduct" related to disrupting democratic processes from working in North Carolina state government, including universities and community colleges. The bill applies to all state employees and contractors hired on or after July 1, 2025, with due process protections requiring written notice, evidence disclosure, and a hearing opportunity before denial or termination. It directly affects individuals with convictions or findings related to the Capitol events, excluding pardoned individuals and requiring clear evidence for "infamous conduct" determinations. The law becomes effective July 1, 2025, for all new and existing employment decisions.

Maddy summarySB 679, the Women's Care Act, requires North Carolina courts to defer imprisonment for 12 weeks after a pregnant person’s delivery (or end of pregnancy) if they pose no threat to the community. It directly affects pregnant female persons sentenced to prison, mandating courts to postpone incarceration while requiring them to maintain perinatal care, participate in community programs, and report monthly via phone or electronic means. The bill also allows probation supervision without fees during this period and requires prisons to report annual data on pregnant incarcerated women starting in 2026. The law applies to sentences issued on or after its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 680 creates the North Carolina Child Care Finance Agency to address the state's childcare shortage through targeted financing. The agency will provide loans and bonds for constructing or renovating childcare facilities, prioritizing small providers (under 10 facilities), high-quality licensed centers, and projects in high-need areas. It specifically supports faith-based organizations, businesses offering on-site childcare for employees, and encourages full-day care and workforce development partnerships. The bill directly affects childcare providers, employers, and families by expanding affordable, accessible childcare options across North Carolina.

Maddy summarySB 707 modifies North Carolina retirement rules for law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System. It allows LEOs to retire with full, unreduced benefits after 25 years of creditable service, regardless of age (replacing previous age/service requirements). The bill specifies that LEOs retiring on or after January 1, 2026, will receive a benefit calculated as 1.82% of their average final salary multiplied by their years of service, without age-based reductions. This change directly affects current and future LEOs who meet the 25-year service threshold, providing them equal retirement benefits to non-LEO members who reach 30 years of service.

Maddy summarySB 708, the "Working Families Act," directly affects low- and middle-income North Carolina families by reducing child care costs, increasing tax credits, raising wages, and providing housing assistance. It cuts parent copayments for subsidized child care to 7% of gross income (down from 10%), reenacts a refundable child tax credit with income-based payments up to $250 per child, and raises the statewide minimum wage to $15 per hour starting September 1, 2025 - while allowing cities to set higher local rates. The bill also increases income limits for property tax relief and creates a homebuyers' program offering assistance to first-time public servant homebuyers (including teachers, firefighters, police, and EMTs). These changes aim to reduce living costs and support working families through concrete financial adjustments.