Sen. Joyce Waddell

Maddy summarySB 580 establishes a grant program to help North Carolina public schools transition from time-based learning to competency-based education (CBE), where students advance upon mastering skills rather than completing seat time. The bill allocates $330,000 per school to 10 selected schools (chosen via application) for CBE implementation, including $95,000 annually for educator training and resources. Key provisions include developing proficiency-based assessments, partnering with a third-party vendor for professional development, and creating statewide standards for measuring student mastery. This program directly affects participating schools and their students by shifting instructional approaches to focus on demonstrated proficiency across K-12 subjects.

Maddy summarySB 521 creates a 35% nonrefundable income tax credit for investment entities (like partnerships or S-corps) that fund small, newly formed businesses focused on community infrastructure and resilience. Eligible businesses must be under five years old, employ 25 or fewer people in North Carolina, generate $2 million or less in annual revenue, and primarily work on projects like improving roads, utilities, disaster preparedness, or sustainable energy. The credit limits total annual state spending to $5 million and caps individual credits at $100,000 per year, with unused credits carryable for up to 10 years. This policy aims to incentivize private investment in community-focused small businesses through tax benefits, not direct government funding.

Maddy summarySB 519, the "Transportation for the Future Act," reorganizes how North Carolina allocates transportation funds to prioritize sustainable projects like bus rapid transit, commuter rail, and bicycle/pedestrian improvements. It caps state funding for commuter or light rail projects at 10% of either the regional allocation or total project costs, and requires at least 20% of funds to go toward non-highway projects. The bill categorizes projects into "Statewide Strategic," "Regional Impact," and "Division Needs" groups, using specific scoring criteria (e.g., safety, economic growth, multimodal access) to rank and fund them. Local input and federal funding rules are also clarified to ensure transparency in project selection. This directly affects local governments, transit agencies, and communities seeking to build safer, more connected transportation systems.

Maddy summarySB 518, the Mobile Home Park Act, creates new protections for mobile home residents and park operators in North Carolina. It requires written leases for tenancies, mandates a 90-day notice period for eviction (with exceptions for lease violations), and prohibits unfair fees like excessive entry charges. The bill also requires security deposits to be held in separate trust accounts and directs the North Carolina Human Rights Commission to regulate parks and resolve disputes. This law directly affects mobile home owners, park management, and the Commission, focusing on fair treatment and clear dispute resolution.

Maddy summarySB 550, the Coaches Care Act, requires all middle and high school coaches and athletic directors in North Carolina to complete approved youth mental health first aid training by July 1, 2026. The training teaches coaches to recognize mental health challenges, assist youth experiencing them, and connect them to professional resources. Schools must maintain records of coach certification, and local governments must deny public facility access to youth sports organizations whose coaches lack this certification. The State Board of Education will approve specific training programs, initially including the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's courses, and publish them annually. This law directly affects all public school coaches and youth sports organizations using county or city facilities.

Maddy summarySB 547 modifies the ballot language for a specific county sales tax referendum in North Carolina. It clarifies that revenue from the one-quarter percent sales tax can be used for "any public purpose," removing ambiguity about fund usage. The bill directly affects voters in counties holding referendums under this tax provision, ensuring the ballot question clearly states how funds may be spent. This change applies to future referendums held on or after the law takes effect. The bill does not alter the tax rate or its collection method, only the wording presented to voters.

Maddy summarySB 559 directs North Carolina's Legislative Research Commission (LRC) to study whether state employees should receive bereavement leave. The LRC must examine data from the Office of State Human Resources and report findings with potential legislative proposals to the 2026 General Assembly. The bill appropriates $50,000 from the General Fund to fund this study during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It does not create new leave policies but sets a timeline for research, with the study mandated to begin by July 1, 2025. This is a procedural bill focused solely on gathering information, not implementing changes.

Maddy summarySB 539, the North Carolina Utility Worker Protection Act, increases criminal penalties for assaulting utility workers while they perform their duties. It upgrades such assaults to a Class A1 misdemeanor (from lower-level offenses) and adds specific felony charges if deadly weapons are used. The bill defines "utility worker" broadly to include employees providing gas, electricity, water, internet, cable, telecommunications, sewer, or railroad services, covering both public and private sector workers. The law applies to offenses occurring on or after December 1, 2025, and does not affect prosecutions for acts before that date.

Maddy summarySB 564, the "Public Safety Through Food Access Act," allows North Carolina to opt out of a federal ban that denies food assistance and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits to people convicted of drug-related felony offenses. It directly affects individuals convicted of Class H or I drug felonies who meet specific conditions: they must complete six months without new offenses and successfully finish or actively participate in a substance abuse treatment program approved by mental health authorities. The bill requires county social services to link food and TANF benefits to this treatment requirement, as permitted by federal law. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 568 establishes the North Carolina Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force to study the potential use of psychedelic medicine for treating mental health conditions. The task force, composed of 12 state agency representatives, mental health advocates, medical experts, and legislative appointees, will assess barriers to access, recommend licensing and insurance requirements, and explore legal pathways - should federal regulations change. It must submit a final report with recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2026. The bill does not legalize psychedelic medicine but prepares for potential future policy changes based on the task force’s findings.