Sen. Paul Lowe

Maddy summarySB 57 amends North Carolina's workers' compensation law to expand coverage for eyeglasses and hearing aids damaged during work-related injuries. It requires that repair or replacement of these devices only occurs if the damage happens incidentally to a compensable injury (e.g., glasses breaking during a workplace fall). Workers will not receive coverage for routine damage or loss unrelated to a covered injury. The change applies to all claims arising on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySB 27 restores local governments' authority to down-zone (reduce development density or limit land uses) in ten specific coastal counties without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. It directly affects property owners in Bertie, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Tyrrell counties. The bill changes the law so that counties can initiate down-zoning amendments without owner consent, reversing a prior requirement. This change applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, affecting ordinances adopted after that date.

Maddy summarySB 14 proposes repealing a North Carolina constitutional requirement that voters must demonstrate the ability to read and write parts of the state constitution. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, it would remove this literacy test for voter registration, directly affecting individuals registering to vote in North Carolina. The bill requires a statewide referendum with the ballot question: "FOR [ ] AGAINST Constitutional amendment to repeal the requirement that every person presenting himself for registration shall be able to read and write any section of the Constitution in the English language." Approval by a majority of voters would make the repeal effective, ending this specific registration barrier.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles to issue mobile drivers licenses (MDLs) upon request, making them legally equivalent to physical licenses for all purposes, including voting. It extends recognition to MDLs issued by other states with similar requirements and mandates law enforcement officers to complete training on appropriate interactions with MDL holders. The bill also explicitly states that MDLs satisfy North Carolina's photo ID requirement for in-person voting. These provisions apply to all North Carolina drivers who request an MDL, law enforcement officers, and voters needing photo ID at polling places.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends North Carolina's building and environmental codes to limit when public water systems can require customers to install backflow preventers and to reduce the frequency of required testing for residential irrigation systems. It specifically prohibits local governments from mandating these devices on existing connections unless a high hazard is officially determined by the state Department of Environmental Quality, and it shields water system employees from civil liability if they follow these new rules. Additionally, the legislation bans the requirement for redundant inline shut-off valves between a water meter and a residential dwelling, while allowing exceptions for valves integrated into meter boxes or installed as main shutoffs near entrances. The changes also clarify that increases in water flow alone do not necessitate a backflow preventer and establish a three-year maximum testing interval for residential irrigation systems that do not use chemical feeds.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing wastewater regulations to allow for the discharge of treated domestic wastewater into low-flow or zero-flow surface waters, such as intermittent streams and wetlands, under specific conditions. It directly affects municipalities, businesses, and developers by establishing a new permitting process that permits discharges of up to 2 million gallons per day if the treated water has high dissolved oxygen and low biological oxygen demand. The legislation requires the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Management Commission to develop and submit draft rules to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval by August 1, 2024. Once approved, these rules will create site-specific criteria based on flow data from the U.S. Geological Survey to ensure wastewater discharge does not harm water quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment in North Carolina to require all voters to present photographic identification before casting a ballot, expanding a rule that currently applies only to those voting in person. The legislation would place this change on the ballot for a statewide vote on November 5, 2024, asking voters to decide whether to mandate photo ID for everyone regardless of how they vote. If approved by a majority of voters, the amendment would become part of the state constitution and allow the General Assembly to set specific rules for acceptable forms of identification. If rejected, the proposal will have no effect and the existing voting requirements will remain unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new statewide Medicaid plan specifically for children and families, requiring the state to issue a request for proposals to select a provider by December 2024. The legislation defines this new plan as distinct from standard Medicaid plans and allows the state to require automatic enrollment in this specialty plan unless a social services official determines that a different plan is better for the child. Additionally, the bill establishes a closed network of providers for specialized services like residential treatment and intensive in-home care within this new plan, while also clarifying rules about when certain groups can leave their current Medicaid plans and what services must be covered.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the North Carolina Constitution to protect specific reproductive rights, including abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, and miscarriage care. The amendment would allow the state to restrict access to abortion only after fetal viability, except when necessary to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and it defines "undue burden" as any substantial obstacle placed in a woman's path before that point. If passed by voters in the 2024 general election, the changes would take effect on January 1, 2025, while also maintaining existing conscience protection laws for healthcare providers.