Sen. Joyce Waddell

Maddy summarySB 157 allocates $100,000 from North Carolina's General Fund to Johnson C. Smith University for its Inclusive Tech-Innovation Pilot Project. The funds will support creating a community hub that uses broadband technology to foster economic growth and collaboration in the local area. The bill directs a nonrecurring grant specifically for this pilot program, which aims to connect the university with surrounding neighborhoods. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not change existing laws or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 159 creates a property tax relief program for North Carolina seniors aged 65+ who own and occupy their primary residence for at least five consecutive years. It allows qualifying owners to defer taxes on increases in their home's appraised value above the "qualifying value" (the value when first applying for relief), freezing tax increases on appreciation. The deferral ends if the owner sells the home, dies (unless inherited by a spouse or co-owner who continues living there), or stops using it as a primary residence. This program applies to taxes for 2026 and beyond, with applications accepted through June 1 each year.

Maddy summarySB 140 appropriates $75,000 in one-time state funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to My Brother's Keeper of Charlotte, a nonprofit organization. The funds are intended to support programs specifically designed to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color in Charlotte. This bill directs state resources to a targeted community initiative through a nonrecurring grant, without creating new state regulations or altering existing laws. The legislation becomes effective July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summarySB 139 prevents the elimination of medical benefits for North Carolina state teachers and employees who first earned retirement service on or after January 1, 2021. It reverses a prior change that would have cut these benefits by repealing specific sections of law, effective retroactively to December 31, 2020. The bill appropriates $500,000 annually for 2025-2026 and $2 million annually for 2026-2027 to cover increased costs for the state health plan. This restores medical coverage for affected retirees under several retirement systems, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases North Carolina's income limit for the property tax homestead exclusion for elderly or disabled homeowners from $25,000 to $48,000, effective for taxes due in 2025. It applies to qualifying homeowners whose income would otherwise disqualify them from the exclusion. The new limit will automatically adjust annually based on Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, rounded to the nearest $100. This change directly affects low-to-moderate-income elderly or disabled homeowners seeking property tax relief.

Maddy summarySB 147, titled "Teacher License Reciprocity," changes North Carolina's teacher licensing rules to make it easier for out-of-state educators to work in the state. It prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring teachers licensed in other states to pass a standardized exam for a North Carolina continuing professional teaching license (CPL), provided they have at least three years of teaching experience and are in good standing with their home state. This directly affects educators seeking to move their teaching careers to North Carolina without retaking exams. The bill applies to license applications submitted on or after its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 142 allocates $75,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to Mecklenburg Council of Elders, Inc., a nonprofit organization. The grant supports the organization in hosting seminars and events to raise awareness of citizens' rights and options in Mecklenburg County, regardless of past legal involvement, and assists with its Juvenile Court Intervention program. This funding directly affects Mecklenburg County residents, particularly those with prior interactions with the legal system, by expanding access to civic education and support services.

Maddy summarySB 141 appropriates $75,000 in one-time state funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to The Males Place, Inc. in Charlotte. The funding supports the organization's program offering weekly mentoring services specifically for African American boys aged 12 to 18. The bill directs the Office of State Budget and Management to disburse these funds to assist the nonprofit in delivering this mentoring initiative. The measure becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 154, the North Carolina CROWN Act, prohibits employment discrimination based on hair texture or protective hairstyles. It explicitly defines "protective hairstyles" (including braids, locks, twists, and bantu knots) as protected under existing anti-discrimination law, stating that race discrimination includes hair texture and type. The bill amends Chapter 95 to add Section 95-28.1B, making it illegal for employers to deny jobs, fire, or otherwise discriminate against employees because of these hair characteristics. This applies to all employers, employees, and job applicants in North Carolina starting from the law's effective date.

Maddy summarySB 128, the Heroes Homestead Act, increases the property tax exemption for disabled veterans in North Carolina from $45,000 to $76,500 of a home's appraised value. This change directly affects qualifying disabled veterans who own and occupy their primary residence, providing greater tax relief on their homes. The bill amends North Carolina's property tax law to set the new exclusion amount, effective for taxes due on or after July 1, 2026. It does not apply to other property tax relief programs.