Sen. Gladys Robinson

Maddy summarySB 649 reinstates education-based salary supplements for North Carolina public school teachers and instructional support personnel (ISP) who hold master's or doctoral degrees. It directs the State Board of Education to use the 2013 policy (TCP-A-006) to determine eligibility for the "M" salary schedule and degree-related pay supplements. The bill appropriates $8 million in recurring state funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to cover these reinstated supplements. This policy change directly affects educators with advanced degrees by restoring previously eliminated pay incentives tied to their academic credentials.

Maddy summarySB 652, titled "Voter Fraud Prevention Act" (though it addresses party switches, not fraud), requires North Carolina legislators who change political party affiliation during their term with over six months remaining to vacate their seat automatically. This triggers a special election within 90 days, as outlined in Section 1 of the bill. Additionally, Section 2 mandates that such legislators must refund campaign contributions from the most recent election cycle to donors who request it within 30 days. The bill applies specifically to elected or appointed members of the North Carolina General Assembly and is currently pending in the Senate Rules committee.

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 660 increases the property tax exemption for disabled veterans in North Carolina from $45,000 to $75,000 of home value, effective for taxes starting July 2025. It also allows 100% disabled veterans to exclude their primary vehicle from property tax and creates a prequalification process to determine eligibility before purchasing a home. Local governments will be reimbursed by the state for 50% of revenue losses from these exemptions, capped at 1% of their general fund revenue. The bill directly affects North Carolina residents who are 100% disabled veterans or surviving spouses of such veterans.

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.

Maddy summarySB 714 prohibits corporal punishment (physical punishment) in all North Carolina public schools, making it the first statewide statutory ban despite no current school districts using it. The bill requires schools to report detailed data on any corporal punishment administered - including student race, gender, disability status, and reasons - to the State Board of Education annually. It also mandates parental notification and written explanations for any rare instances where it might still occur, while clarifying that physical restraint under federal law and reasonable force are excluded. The law applies starting the 2025-2026 school year and aligns with existing practices where all 115 school districts already prohibit the practice.

Maddy summarySB 715 appropriates $500,000 to create a grant program for North Carolina community colleges. The program provides up to $20,000 per college to upgrade equipment and facilities needed to produce student ID cards that meet state voting requirements (G.S. 163-166.16). It directly affects community colleges that lack voter-acceptable student IDs, removing financial barriers to providing these cards. Colleges must submit plans for fund use by August 15, 2025, and the State Board of Elections must approve the IDs before they can be used for voting.

Maddy summarySB 736 creates a new Housing Innovation Office within North Carolina's Housing Finance Agency, funded by a permanent increase in the real estate transfer tax. The bill raises the tax rate on property sales over $500,000 from $1 per $500 to $1 per $400, directing the additional revenue ($5 million annually for 2025-2027) to this office. The office will use these funds for research, technical assistance, grants, and loans to support affordable housing construction, maintenance, and innovative building solutions. This directly affects homebuyers/sellers (through the tax increase) and aims to address the state's housing affordability crisis by expanding funding for housing projects.

Maddy summarySB 732 requires North Carolina's Department of Commerce to measure economic well-being using specific, publicly reported metrics like poverty rates, living wage job access, housing/childcare costs relative to income, and concentrated poverty areas. The bill appropriates $200,000 annually (2025-2027) to conduct bi-annual analyses and submit reports to the General Assembly by January 31 each odd-numbered year. These reports must include data on hardship, cost burdens, education costs, and neighborhood conditions across all counties. The law directly affects how state policymakers assess economic progress, shifting focus from market metrics alone to people's lived experiences. It does not change existing laws but establishes a framework for measuring policy impacts on residents' economic security.

Maddy summarySB 751 restores a public health rule requiring solid waste transport vehicles (like garbage trucks) to prevent leaks that could contaminate streets and public spaces. It reinstates a 2013-era regulation (15A NCAC 13B .0105) that was previously repealed, setting standards for securing waste containers during transport. This rule directly affects garbage truck operators and protects public health, particularly for children who may be near collection sites. The bill mandates the Public Health Commission to adopt this rule without standard administrative delays.