Sen. Joyce Waddell

Maddy summarySB 525, the Living Wage Guarantee Act, would raise North Carolina’s minimum wage to $15 per hour for most employers starting January 1, 2026, directly affecting low-wage workers and businesses statewide. Small businesses (with fewer than 10 employees) would phase in the increase over three years, starting at $12/hour in 2026 and reaching $15/hour by 2028. The bill includes automatic annual wage adjustments tied to the cost-of-living index starting in 2028 to maintain purchasing power. It also establishes a $10 million state fund to support small businesses during the transition and strengthens enforcement by allowing workers to seek back pay and protecting them from retaliation.

Maddy summarySB 482, the "Don't Tread on Me: An Individual Freedoms Act," creates new legal protections for North Carolinians by limiting state agency actions across multiple areas. It directly affects all residents by prohibiting warrantless government surveillance, requiring agencies to stop demanding private medical, religious, or political information for services, banning ideological restrictions on reproductive care, and protecting parental rights in education and healthcare decisions. Key provisions mandate that schools provide fact-based education without political manipulation, prevent discrimination in employment or housing based on private beliefs, and ensure government benefits are not denied due to personal health choices or political views. The bill establishes these rights as enforceable standards for all state agencies, requiring actions to be "narrowly tailored" to a compelling state interest.

Maddy summarySB 566 updates North Carolina's health insurance laws to require equal coverage for substance use disorder treatment as for physical health conditions. It replaces outdated terms like "chemical dependency" with "substance use disorder" in state statutes and mandates that medical necessity determinations for addiction treatment must use the same clinical criteria applied to physical health conditions. This directly affects health insurers offering group plans and patients seeking addiction treatment, ensuring they face no stricter coverage limits than for other medical issues. The bill aligns North Carolina's requirements with federal mental health parity law (the Paul Wellstone Act) by explicitly including substance use disorders under coverage parity rules.

Maddy summarySB 364 changes retirement rules for retired Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) and Assistant Public Defenders (APDs) in North Carolina. It reduces the required separation period from state employment before returning to work from six months to 30 days. This means retired ADAs and APDs can rejoin state positions after a 30-day break, rather than waiting six months like other state retirees. The bill directly affects these specific retired legal professionals who wish to return to state service.

Maddy summarySB 522, the "Thrive at Midlife Act," requires all health insurance plans in North Carolina to cover specific healthcare services for women aged 40-65, including menopause care, bone density screenings, heart disease prevention, diabetes management, cancer screenings, mental health support, and telehealth. It also expands Medicaid coverage for these services and allocates $10 million annually (2025-2027) to fund grants for community health centers serving uninsured midlife women, prioritizing rural and underserved areas. The bill creates tax credits for individuals and businesses covering qualified midlife healthcare expenses like prescription medications, screenings, and mental health services. These provisions aim to improve access to preventive and specialized care for midlife women while requiring insurers to limit copays and deductibles for covered services to federal preventive care standards.

Maddy summarySB 594, the Care Center Cost Support Act, increases child care subsidy rates for licensed centers and homes rated 3-5 stars to the 75th percentile of North Carolina's 2023 market study, effective October 2025. It establishes a minimum rate floor for providers and allows counties with very small child populations to use local rates if statewide rates would hinder access. The bill appropriates $110 million annually from 2025-2027 to fund these rate increases, directly supporting low-income families using subsidized care and child care providers serving them. The changes aim to align subsidies with current market costs while ensuring access in all counties.

Maddy summarySB 555 establishes a $15 million Wetlands Restoration and Protection Fund to support wetland conservation in North Carolina. The bill allocates $5 million specifically for monitoring and research, and directs the Department of Environmental Quality to fund restoration projects, land protection agreements, public education, and enforcement of wetland laws. It directly affects landowners near wetlands and environmental programs by redefining "isolated wetlands" using pre-2020 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determinations and the 2010 North Carolina Wetland Assessment Manual, restoring protections lost under the *Sackett v. EPA* Supreme Court decision. The bill requires annual reports to legislators detailing fund usage, project outcomes, and research findings.

Maddy summarySB 551 establishes North Carolina's Broadband Assistance Program to help low-income families afford internet service. It provides free broadband for families at or below 100% of the federal poverty level and a $15 monthly credit for families earning between 100-135% of the poverty level who also participate in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or housing assistance. The program, funded by $250 million in state funds, requires annual income verification and direct payments to internet providers. The Department of Commerce must report quarterly on program participation, outreach, and recommendations starting in 2025.

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.)