Sen. DeAndrea Salvador

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 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 guarantee the public's right to access government records and attend public meetings. It declares that public records belong to the people and mandates that records and meetings for state and local officials across all branches of government be open for inspection and duplication. The amendment includes a strict rule that any law limiting this access must prove a compelling public interest and show that the restriction is narrowly tailored to protect that interest. If voters approve the measure in the November 2024 election, the changes will become part of the state constitution, requiring future laws to align with these transparency standards.

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.