Sen. Paul Lowe

Maddy summarySB 317, the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, creates new rules for dividing property owned by multiple family members (known as "heirs property") where ownership is unclear and at least 20% of shares are held by relatives or acquired through family lines. If a court determines property qualifies as heirs property, it must be divided under this law unless all owners agree otherwise in writing. The bill requires courts to first determine the property's fair market value through appraisal or agreement, then offers co-owners a 45-day window to buy out others' shares at that value before a court-ordered sale. This process aims to clarify ownership for family-held land without requiring all owners to agree upfront.

Maddy summarySB 283 appropriates $1.678 million annually in recurring funds (plus supplemental nonrecurring funds) to expand sickle cell disease services for North Carolina's estimated 7,000+ patients. It directly funds six medical centers (including Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and Atrium Health) for comprehensive care, creates transition coordinator positions to support youth moving from pediatric to adult care, and provides grants to community organizations in underserved areas. The bill also allocates funds to develop a statewide emergency department toolkit for better acute care and supports the state's sickle cell program with new staff positions. All funding is allocated for the 2025-2027 biennium and becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 259, the School Psychologist Omnibus, aims to improve the number and quality of school psychologists in North Carolina public schools. It provides $8.1 million for 2025-2026 to increase school psychologists' salaries by $650 monthly plus 12% for those with NCSP credentials, and allocates $5 million for a grant program offering signing bonuses (up to $5,000) to recruit psychologists, requiring a one-year commitment. Another $5 million funds an internship program with stipends for psychology students and supervisor bonuses, while $5 million supports a virtual training program at Appalachian State University. These provisions directly affect school psychologists, school districts, and psychology training programs across North Carolina.

Maddy summarySB 231 allows North Carolina state agencies to sell surplus personal property (like unused equipment or supplies) through third-party online auction platforms, rather than solely through state-run processes. It directly affects state agencies managing surplus assets and private auction companies facilitating these sales. The bill updates existing rules to permit this method while maintaining current requirements for distributing surplus property to nonprofits and schools, particularly for computer equipment donated to low-income students. The key change is enabling state agencies to use external auction sites as an additional sales channel for surplus items.

Maddy summarySB 241 appropriates $3.5 million from the General Fund to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the renovation of the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at Smith Reynolds Airport in Forsyth County. The funds will cover structural repairs, modernization, HVAC upgrades, and infrastructure improvements to the hangar facility. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to submit quarterly reports on fund usage to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and Fiscal Research Division. This funding directly supports airport operations and maintenance for Forsyth County.

Maddy summarySB 240 establishes the NCSTARS Grant Program to fund community colleges partnering with public schools and local businesses to create work-based learning programs for students aged 16+ in apprenticeships or preapprenticeships. It provides matching grants of up to $500,000 per year per community college, requiring a 3:1 state-to-local funding match for program costs like student stipends, travel, and staff. The program prioritizes applications modeling the Surry-Yadkin Works FLEET program and mandates annual reports on participation and outcomes. Total funding of $4.75 million is allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, supporting the program through 2028-2029.

Maddy summarySB 243 directs North Carolina's Department of Transportation to study the cost and feasibility of a commuter rail service connecting Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point in the Piedmont Triad region. The study must analyze ridership, operating costs, land acquisition, and recommend a management entity, with results due by December 29, 2025. The bill allocates $100,000 from the Highway Fund for this study, which is purely a feasibility assessment with no funding for actual rail construction. It does not create new policy or affect residents directly beyond enabling the study.

Maddy summarySB 228 modifies North Carolina's property tax exclusion for disabled veterans, replacing a flat $45,000 exemption with a percentage-based system tied to the veteran's VA disability rating. It directly affects veterans with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating (or surviving spouses if the veteran died from a service-connected condition), who own their primary residence. Under the bill, the tax exclusion equals the veteran's disability percentage multiplied by their home's appraised value (e.g., a 70% disabled veteran would get 70% of their home's value excluded). Eligibility requires VA certification of the disability rating as of January 1 prior to the tax year, and the change takes effect for taxes due in 2025.

Maddy summarySB 197 appropriates $3.5 million in one-time state funding from the General Fund for the renovation of the Smith Reynolds Airport Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar in Forsyth County. The bill specifies the funds must cover structural repairs, HVAC upgrades, and infrastructure improvements at the hangar facility. It requires the Department of Transportation to submit quarterly reports on fund usage to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and Fiscal Research Division. The funding is allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises Winston-Salem and Forsyth County zoning laws to clarify the joint City-County Planning Board's authority over zoning changes and promote affordable housing. It allows the city to offer density bonuses - permitting more housing units than normally allowed - to developers who build or donate land for low/moderate-income housing. The bill also establishes two zoning district types: "general use" districts (permitting multiple land uses without specifying the intended use) and "special use" districts (requiring developers to specify a single use, like a park or apartment building, with conditions set by the City Council). These changes directly affect property owners, developers, and residents in Winston-Salem and the three-mile area surrounding the city, where zoning regulations now extend.