Sen. Dave Craven

Maddy summarySB 478 allows banks in North Carolina to deduct income tax on interest, fees, and penalties from loans secured by agricultural land, as defined by state law. This tax deduction applies to loans specifically backed by farmland, directly benefiting banks that provide such financing. The policy change takes effect for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. The bill does not directly affect farmers or landowners but alters tax treatment for financial institutions offering agricultural loans.

Maddy summarySB 619 establishes North Carolina's AI Academic Support Grant Program, providing $10,060,560 in recurring funds for public school districts to contract with Khan Academy for its Khanmigo AI tool. The program directly affects public schools serving grades 6-12, requiring districts to use funds exclusively for Khanmigo licenses, associated teacher training, and secure class rostering systems approved by the state. Schools must annually evaluate Khanmigo's use and report metrics like student interactions, teacher usage, and impacts on learning outcomes to the legislature. A separate study by the Office of Learning Research will measure Khanmigo's effectiveness on student performance, with results due by April 2028.

Maddy summarySB 709 reorganizes North Carolina's state investment laws by restructuring existing statutes into a new "2025 State Investment Modernization Act." It creates the North Carolina Investment Authority as an independent state agency within the Treasurer's office, granting it autonomy from budgetary controls by the Treasurer, Budget Director, and Department of Administration. The bill establishes definitions, tax exemptions for the authority, and confidentiality rules for investment negotiations, but does not change investment policies or fund management practices. This is a procedural reorganization of legal structure, not a policy change affecting specific residents or programs.

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 699 would expand Medicaid coverage for personal care services to adults living in licensed adult care homes who earn more than the standard income limit for state assistance but stay below 180-200% of the federal poverty level. It specifically targets individuals who would otherwise qualify for state-funded care but exceed income thresholds, aiming to provide alternatives to nursing home placements. The bill requires North Carolina's health department to request federal approval from CMS within 90 days, ensuring new coverage is fully offset by cost savings and meets all legal requirements. Implementation would only occur if CMS approves the request and all goals in the bill are met.

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 739 appropriates $6 million in nonrecurring state funds for Hyde County to purchase property specifically for oyster farming. The bill directs this grant to be managed by Hyde County in collaboration with the North Carolina Marine Industrial Park Authority. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and solely provides funding for property acquisition - no policy changes or regulations are introduced. This is a straightforward funding measure targeting Hyde County's oyster farming sector.

Maddy summarySB 758 (Water and Sewer Allocation Reforms) prohibits local governments in North Carolina from imposing unauthorized conditions on water or sewer service for new residential housing projects (single-family or multifamily). It bans requirements like extra fees, design restrictions, or arbitrary scoring systems for allocating service, and mandates quarterly public reports on infrastructure capacity. Local governments receiving public funds must publish capacity data, develop annual expansion plans, and prioritize areas facing imminent shortages. The bill directly affects developers seeking service and local governments managing water/sewer systems, ensuring service allocation is based on available capacity - not arbitrary rules. Violations can trigger court-ordered compliance or fines up to $5,000 per day.

Maddy summarySB 498 appropriates $12 million from North Carolina's General Fund to the Town of Beaufort for specific upgrades and repairs to its boat docks. The bill directs this nonrecurring funding for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, targeting infrastructure improvements at the town's waterfront facilities. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, if enacted. The bill is currently pending in the legislative process (last action: withdrawn from committee on March 26, 2025) and has not yet become law.