Sen. Buck Newton

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 488) changes North Carolina's process for establishing paternity for children born to unmarried parents. It requires unmarried mothers and fathers to complete a specific affidavit to have the father's name added to a birth certificate, including sworn statements, plain-language explanations of parental rights, and social security numbers. The affidavit must be filed with the state registrar, but it does not automatically grant inheritance rights - those require separate filing with the court under G.S. 29-19. The bill directly affects unmarried parents seeking to establish paternity on birth certificates and state officials processing birth records. It clarifies that the birth certificate process and inheritance rights are separate legal matters.

Maddy summarySB 403 (North Carolina) prepares the state for potential federal approval of Medicaid work requirements. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHB) to negotiate with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) if work requirements become authorized, and to notify specific legislative committees within 30 days of starting talks. After CMS approves a plan, DHB must submit a detailed report to those committees, including implementation dates and funding needs. The bill does not create new requirements but establishes a process for the state to implement them if federally approved. This is a procedural measure affecting Medicaid administration, not the current benefit structure.

Maddy summarySB 474, the DAVE Act, creates a new Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency within North Carolina's State Auditor's office. It requires all state agencies to report by October 2025 on how they spend public funds and list vacant positions held for six months or longer, including reasons for vacancies. The Division will assess whether agencies or specific positions remain necessary, using AI tools to analyze spending effectiveness, duplication, and budget use. By December 2025, the Division must recommend to the legislature which agencies or positions should be eliminated based on this review.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 648 modifies various provisions affecting North Carolina's courts and legal procedures. It adds High Point University School of Law to the list of institutions receiving state appellate division reports. The bill renames and clarifies the framework for "judicially managed accountability and recovery courts" under the Administrative Office of the Courts. It also requires clear disclosure when official court forms are modified by attorneys or parties. Furthermore, the bill repeals the requirement for public notice of name change applications at the courthouse and clarifies confidentiality for certain applicants, such as victims of domestic violence.

Maddy summarySB 355 waives tuition at North Carolina public colleges for survivors of correctional officers, probation officers, or firefighters who died in the line of duty or became permanently disabled. It specifically covers spouses of disabled officers and children (ages 17-24) of disabled officers, with eligibility requiring service-connected death/disability and verification from relevant agencies. The waiver applies to both credit and noncredit programs, limiting bachelor’s degree support to 54 months. This policy directly affects families of these public safety workers by reducing education costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the City of Rocky Mount from using money earned by its electric utility to fund general city expenses beyond specific operational needs. It mandates that revenue from electric rates must primarily cover the costs of running the power system, paying off related debts, and keeping rates low for customers. The only exception allows the city to transfer a limited amount of surplus funds to other municipal accounts, capped at the greater of 3% of the system's assets or 5% of its annual revenue. Effective July 1, 2026, these rules apply exclusively to Rocky Mount, preventing the transfer of electric utility profits to the city's general fund for unrelated purposes.

Maddy summarySB 801 protects the personal information of North Carolina special operations personnel and their families by making their addresses, phone numbers, and school details confidential. The bill requires state agencies to keep this data private unless the individual requests disclosure and confirms they have taken steps to protect it through other means. It also expands the state's Address Confidentiality Program to include these individuals, allowing them to use a substitute address for receiving mail and legal documents. Additionally, the legislation creates a new civil liability law against doxing and allocates funds to implement these protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "Truth in Taxation," requires local taxing authorities in North Carolina to follow a specific process before raising property tax rates above a revenue-neutral level during years when a general reappraisal of real property occurs. To implement this change, the governing body must publish public notices in newspapers and online, send direct mail to taxpayers detailing the proposed tax increase, and hold a dedicated public hearing where a majority vote is required to approve the higher rate. If a local government fails to comply with these procedures and collects excess taxes, the bill mandates that they refund the overage to affected property owners. Additionally, the legislation increases the late reinstatement fee for expired real estate appraiser trainee registrations, licenses, and certificates to $12 per month, up from $10.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires proxy advisory firms in North Carolina to clearly disclose when their voting recommendations are not based on a written financial analysis of how the vote affects shareholder value. The law defines a "written financial analysis" as a document that evaluates both short-term and long-term financial impacts and explains the methods used to reach a conclusion. If a firm recommends against company management or uses default policies that oppose management without such an analysis, it must inform clients that the recommendation was not grounded in these financial evaluations. Additionally, the bill mandates that proxy advisors provide these disclosures to both shareholders and company directors to ensure transparency in the voting guidance process.

Maddy summarySB 602 would temporarily allow owners of commercial buildings damaged by Hurricane Helene to rebuild using the same fire-rated windows that were in place before the storm, instead of upgrading to current building code standards. It applies only to downtown commercial structures in counties declared disaster areas by the federal government, where reconstruction is limited to restoring the building to its pre-storm condition without expansion. Owners must submit a signed affidavit confirming eligibility and acknowledging the risks of not using upgraded windows, and the exemption expires two years after the bill takes effect. This exemption specifically covers window requirements but does not affect other building code provisions.