Sen. Gladys Robinson

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new member to the General Statutes Commission of North Carolina, representing the High Point University School of Law. The amendment changes the commission's composition to include 14 members instead of 13, ensuring one seat is filled by an appointment from the dean of that specific law school. Appointments for this new seat will occur in odd-numbered years, with the initial term scheduled to begin in September 2026 and end in August 2029. The legislation affects the structure of the body responsible for reviewing and updating the state's legal code.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally initiates the process to confirm Nathaniel Denny as the Secretary of North Carolina's Department of Information Technology. The bill requires the Senate to review and vote on the Governor's nomination for this leadership position, as mandated by state law and the state constitution. It does not change any laws or policies but serves as a procedural step to evaluate the appointment before it becomes official.

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 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 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally defines "license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor" child care providers in North Carolina law to clarify their legal status. It applies to individuals caring for children outside their own families in settings that do not require a license, such as relatives, neighbors, or family friends. The legislation ensures these caregivers are not subject to new licensing requirements while allowing the state to update its public materials, internal policies, and data systems to better track and support this group. Additionally, the bill allocates $30,000 to help the Department of Health and Human Services implement these changes and improve communication regarding the distinction between licensed and unlicensed care arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill prevents public utilities from disconnecting residential service during declared periods of extreme heat, extreme cold, or poor air quality, requiring instead that customers be offered deferred payment plans. It also allows landlords to restrict tenants from installing portable cooling or air filtration devices only under specific conditions, such as when the device violates safety codes, damages the property, or requires electrical capacity that cannot be provided. Additionally, the legislation defines what constitutes an extreme weather or air quality event based on official alerts from agencies like the National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill establishes the COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Program to provide financial assistance to small businesses that suffered significant economic losses due to the pandemic. To qualify, a business must have had annual receipts of $8 million or less in 2019 and experienced at least a 25% drop in sales tax collections in 2020 compared to 2019. The program offers one-time grants of up to $250,000, with the total funding capped at $250 million, and requires recipients to keep their operations running for six months to avoid having to repay a portion of the grant.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State of North Carolina to transfer ownership of the North Carolina A&T State University Chancellor's residence to a nonprofit foundation for a nominal fee of one dollar. The legislation requires that if the foundation sells the property, the proceeds must be used to purchase a new residence for the university chancellor. The transfer is conducted without any warranties regarding the property's condition, title, or zoning, and the state has allocated $5,000 to cover administrative costs associated with the transaction.