Sen. Joyce Waddell

Maddy summarySB 678 requires North Carolina state agencies to explore using underutilized state-owned buildings for childcare centers, prioritizing state employees. It mandates that new or renovated state buildings costing over $5 million (with >250 workers) include onsite childcare or adult care centers, unless costs rise by 10% or delays exceed six months. The bill also establishes a pilot program funding three private childcare centers on unused state property, requiring contractors to partner with colleges for apprenticeship programs and covering renovation costs. It allocates $5 million for the program and sets reporting deadlines for feasibility studies and pilot outcomes. The law directly affects state employees seeking childcare, private childcare providers, and state property managers.

Maddy summarySB 667, the Government Modernization Act of 2025, requires North Carolina state agencies to upgrade outdated computer systems, enhance cybersecurity protections, and expand online public services. It mandates agencies to conduct IT assessments, implement multi-factor authentication and encryption, and create mobile-friendly portals for licenses, taxes, and business filings. The bill also directs a study on using blockchain technology to secure records, verify licenses, and improve procurement transparency. These changes aim to improve efficiency and accessibility for residents and businesses while reducing bureaucratic delays, with implementation beginning July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 660 increases the property tax exemption for disabled veterans in North Carolina from $45,000 to $75,000 of home value, effective for taxes starting July 2025. It also allows 100% disabled veterans to exclude their primary vehicle from property tax and creates a prequalification process to determine eligibility before purchasing a home. Local governments will be reimbursed by the state for 50% of revenue losses from these exemptions, capped at 1% of their general fund revenue. The bill directly affects North Carolina residents who are 100% disabled veterans or surviving spouses of such veterans.

Maddy summarySB 663, the "End Menstrual Poverty Act," allocates $350,000 in one-time state funds to expand access to feminine hygiene products through North Carolina’s diaper banks and $1 million annually to fund a school-based grant program for feminine hygiene products. It directly affects low-income individuals and students who rely on diaper banks and school programs for essential hygiene items. The bill increases funding for existing distribution networks (diaper banks) and creates a recurring school grant program under state law. This provides concrete policy changes by boosting product availability in community and educational settings without altering eligibility or creating new requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 676, the North Carolina Survivors' Act, allows courts to consider a defendant's history of domestic violence, physical, sexual, or psychological abuse as a factor that may lead to a reduced sentence. It applies to people convicted of certain crimes who were survivors of abuse by intimate partners, family members, household members, traffickers, or those who exploited them financially. To qualify, defendants must provide documented evidence (like court records, medical reports, or witness statements) showing the abuse was a substantial factor in causing the offense. The bill reduces specific sentence ranges (e.g., life without parole to 30 years or less) but excludes cases involving sex offenses, crimes against children, or offenses requiring sex offender registration.

Maddy summarySB 674 allows licensed mental health professionals (including clinical counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists) from other states to practice in North Carolina more easily. It requires applicants to have actively practiced for at least two of the past five years, pass background checks, pay fees, and provide a social security number. The bill mandates licensing boards must issue or deny licenses within 60 days of application, streamlining access to mental health services without replacing existing interstate compacts.

Maddy summarySB 679, the Women's Care Act, requires North Carolina courts to defer imprisonment for 12 weeks after a pregnant person’s delivery (or end of pregnancy) if they pose no threat to the community. It directly affects pregnant female persons sentenced to prison, mandating courts to postpone incarceration while requiring them to maintain perinatal care, participate in community programs, and report monthly via phone or electronic means. The bill also allows probation supervision without fees during this period and requires prisons to report annual data on pregnant incarcerated women starting in 2026. The law applies to sentences issued on or after its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 662 updates North Carolina's domestic violence protective order law to explicitly include same-sex couples in dating relationships. It amends the definition of "personal relationship" by removing the requirement that dating partners be of opposite sex, ensuring same-sex couples who are romantically involved can seek protective orders under the same criteria as opposite-sex couples. The bill changes Section 50B-1(b)(6) of the statute to clarify that a dating relationship is defined by ongoing romantic involvement, not gender. This policy change applies to protective orders issued on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySB 661 directs North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to study health issues affecting military women, particularly during pregnancy and postpartum. The study will examine coordinating maternity care between military and civilian facilities, improving access to housing and job resources, addressing mental health risks, expanding childbirth support services, and reducing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. DHHS must consult with military veterans affairs and gather input from currently or formerly serving military mothers. The bill appropriates $100,000 for this study and requires a final report to legislative committees by April 2026. This bill does not enact new programs but mandates a review to inform future policy.

Maddy summarySB 680 creates the North Carolina Child Care Finance Agency to address the state's childcare shortage through targeted financing. The agency will provide loans and bonds for constructing or renovating childcare facilities, prioritizing small providers (under 10 facilities), high-quality licensed centers, and projects in high-need areas. It specifically supports faith-based organizations, businesses offering on-site childcare for employees, and encourages full-day care and workforce development partnerships. The bill directly affects childcare providers, employers, and families by expanding affordable, accessible childcare options across North Carolina.