Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 221) asks the North Carolina Senate to consider confirming Governor Josh Stein's appointment of Pamela Brewington Cashwell as Secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The bill directly affects the Governor's nomination process for a cabinet-level position overseeing state parks, historic sites, and cultural programs, and it requires the Senate to formally approve her appointment under state constitutional procedures.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (not a policy bill) confirming the Governor's appointment of Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr., as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. It requires the Senate to formally consider his nomination, as mandated by North Carolina law (G.S. 143B-9(a) and the state constitution) for all heads of principal state departments. The resolution itself does not change any laws or policies but sets the process for the Senate to provide "advice and consent" on the appointment. It directly affects the Governor's nomination process and the Senate's confirmation authority for state department leaders.

Maddy summarySB 155 establishes the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact to allow licensed social workers in North Carolina to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed social workers, particularly those serving military families or providing telehealth services, by removing barriers to cross-state practice. The bill creates a system where a "home state" license permits practice in all member states (called "remote states") through mutual recognition, reducing duplicate licensing requirements. Key provisions include standardized disciplinary information sharing between states and ensuring social workers comply with the laws of the state where the client is located during service.

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 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 239 increases the hourly wage for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) serving Medicaid beneficiaries under North Carolina's Innovations waiver program by $5 per hour for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and another $5 per hour for 2026-2027. The law requires providers receiving this funding to use at least 90% of the increased payments to raise DSP wages directly, with verification through payroll documentation. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHB) will adjust payments to managed care organizations (LME/MCOs), which must pass the increase to providers and report quarterly on DSP wage changes. This policy directly affects DSPs working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their employers under the waiver program.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 150) formally asks the North Carolina Senate to confirm Governor Joey R. Hopkins' appointment of Joey R. Hopkins as Secretary of the Department of Transportation. It follows state law requiring Senate approval for heads of major state departments, as the Governor had previously nominated Hopkins for the role. The resolution does not change transportation policies or create new programs; it only initiates the Senate's formal confirmation process for a specific appointment. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on the confirmation step, not the duties or policies of the Department of Transportation.

Maddy summarySB 194 allows Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) to align their academic calendar with the calendar of a local community college, removing standard state-mandated opening (August 26) and closing (June 11) dates for CMS. The bill amends state law to explicitly permit this alignment as an exception to the standard calendar requirements, directly affecting only CMS. This change applies starting the 2025-2026 school year and aims to better coordinate school schedules with community college terms.

Maddy summarySB 201 authorizes the Town of Pineville to establish a reserve police division, allowing reserve officers to be compensated for active duty time. The bill amends Pineville's charter to let the town council set and pay reserve officers' compensation rates. This is a procedural change specific to Pineville's local government structure, not a broad policy shift. It directly affects Pineville's police operations and reserve officers who may serve.