Sen. DeAndrea Salvador

Maddy summarySB 510 exempts menstrual products like tampons, sanitary napkins, panty liners, and menstrual cups from North Carolina's sales tax. The bill amends state tax law (G.S. 105-164.13) to specifically include these products in the list of tax-exempt items, effective October 1, 2025. It directly affects all consumers purchasing these products in North Carolina, removing a sales tax burden. The change applies to all retailers selling these items in the state, with no additional requirements or mechanisms beyond the tax code update. This is a straightforward policy change focusing on reducing costs for menstrual product buyers.

Maddy summarySB 486 appropriates $30,000 annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Aging for the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature program during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. This funding directly supports the program, which engages older adults in state legislative processes. The bill provides recurring annual funding without changing program eligibility or services. It becomes effective July 1, 2025. (This is a procedural funding bill, not a policy change.)

Maddy summarySB 553, titled "Save More Tatas Act," requires health insurance plans in North Carolina to cover diagnostic breast cancer imaging (such as ultrasounds and MRIs) with the same cost-sharing (like copays and deductibles) as routine mammograms, directly affecting women needing these services. It updates mammogram coverage rules to include annual screenings for high-risk individuals (e.g., those with a family history of breast cancer or dense breast tissue) and mandates that facilities meet accreditation standards. The bill also appropriates $3.6 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support mammography services in rural areas and for the State Health Plan. This legislation aims to improve access to breast cancer diagnostic care without increasing patient out-of-pocket costs.

Maddy summarySB 607, the North Carolina Equal Pay Act, prohibits employers from paying employees differently based on gender for work requiring similar skill, effort, and responsibility under comparable conditions. It defines "comparable work" broadly (excluding job titles alone) and allows pay differences only for factors like seniority, merit, geographic location, or job-related education/experience. The bill also bans employers from asking about salary history before making a job offer, protects employees who discuss pay or file complaints from retaliation, and requires employers to post notices about these rights. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and would allow employees to seek back pay for violations.

Maddy summarySB 546 establishes a statewide Clean Energy Workforce Development Program under North Carolina's Department of Commerce to build a skilled workforce for nuclear energy, specifically targeting small modular reactors. It provides grants to colleges for training programs in energy sector skilled trades (like welding, grid integration, and reactor maintenance), subsidizes employer-paid apprenticeships (prioritizing economically disadvantaged students), and offers scholarships for relevant degrees - including for workers displaced by coal plant closures. The bill requires prioritizing funding for communities affected by fossil fuel plant closures, economically distressed areas, and underrepresented groups in the energy sector. It directly affects North Carolina residents seeking clean energy careers, community colleges, and nuclear industry employers through concrete training and financial support mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 480 establishes North Carolina's first state-run paid family leave program, effective January 1, 2026. It provides eligible workers - such as employees meeting wage criteria or self-employed individuals who opt in - with up to 26 weeks of paid leave per year to care for a newborn, adoptive child, or family member with a serious health condition, or for military family leave needs. Benefits are capped at 12 weeks for most family-related reasons (like newborn care), 18 weeks for personal serious health conditions, and 26 weeks for military family leave. The program is funded through employee payroll contributions and administered by the Division of Employment Security, with specific eligibility requirements defined in the bill.

Maddy summarySB 571 (MOMnibus 3.0) establishes a North Carolina grant program to address racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, specifically targeting Black women. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants (between $10,000 and $50,000) to community-based organizations serving Black women in areas with high maternal health disparities. Grants prioritize organizations led by Black women that provide evidence-based services, including culturally respectful care, mental health support, assistance with social determinants like housing and transportation, and doula support. The program mandates technical assistance for grantees and annual reports to the legislature on funding and outcomes. This bill directly affects Black women in North Carolina and community health organizations providing maternal care services.

Maddy summarySB 610 appropriates $5 million from the General Fund and $750,000 from the Highway Fund to fund repairs for Mecklenburg County's "orphan roads" (privately maintained roads used by the public), specifically requiring the North Carolina Department of Transportation to accept Grand Palisades Parkway into the state highway system after upgrades. The bill directly affects residents and schools using the road, including 20 schools with bus routes along it and its role as a potential emergency evacuation route for the Catawba Nuclear Station. Key provisions mandate the state to make necessary improvements to meet highway standards before taking over maintenance. The funding is allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, with the bill effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 511 requires all North Carolina public schools (K-12) to teach informational literacy, defined as skills to find, evaluate, and use information effectively - including digital, media, and technological literacy. The bill mandates the State Board of Education to create age-appropriate standards covering research processes, source evaluation (primary vs. secondary), fact vs. opinion, ethical information use, and access to library resources. Schools must develop curriculum in consultation with library/media staff and implement it starting in the 2025-2026 school year. This policy directly affects every public school student and educator in North Carolina through mandated curriculum changes.

Maddy summarySB 609 allocates $1.25 million in one-time state funds for Steele Creek community projects in Mecklenburg County, directly benefiting residents in this rapidly growing unincorporated area. The bill provides $250,000 to a nonprofit for community health initiatives (focusing on mobility, wellness, family support, and mental health), $500,000 to the Steele Creek Fire and Rescue Service for emergency equipment and facilities, and $500,000 to the state DOT for a traffic study on Shopton Road West. These funds aim to address infrastructure and service gaps as Steele Creek’s population has grown over 70% in 15 years. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, with all funding directed to specific projects for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.