Sen. Caleb Theodros

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to add 1,000 slots to the state's Medicaid Innovations Waiver, which provides alternative care options for individuals with disabilities. To support this expansion, the legislation appropriates $36.2 million in recurring funds from the state's General Fund starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, allowing more eligible residents to access services under the waiver program.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Government Modernization Act of 2026, directs North Carolina's Department of Information Technology to study and implement blockchain technology to improve security, reduce fraud, and increase transparency in state records and transactions. To support these efforts, the legislation appropriates $50 million from the Information Technology Reserve Fund to modernize outdated systems and expand online government services for residents and businesses. The Department must submit a progress report within 12 months of the law taking effect and provide annual updates to the General Assembly, while a new Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Digital Governance is created to supervise the project. The act is set to become effective on July 1, 2026, and will remain in force until June 30, 2031.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends North Carolina's divorce laws to allow victims of domestic violence to file for divorce immediately without waiting the standard one year and six months of separation. It also eliminates the requirement to prove that the separation lasted for six months prior to filing the divorce complaint and removes defenses like recrimination that could block a divorce. Additionally, the legislation abolishes the outdated legal claims of alienation of affection and criminal conversation, which previously allowed lawsuits against third parties for interfering in a marriage. A separate provision in the bill appropriates $3 million in state and federal funds to expand the NC Medicaid Family Planning Program, effective in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Frontline Mental Health Support Program in North Carolina to offer confidential counseling to public school teachers and first responders who face occupational stress. Eligible employees, including law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, can access up to 12 licensed therapy sessions per year through in-person or telehealth options. The legislation appropriates $13 million in recurring funds starting in 2026-2027 to establish the program and expand the behavioral health workforce via grants to providers. It also mandates that participation cannot be used as grounds for any adverse employment actions and requires a report on the program's implementation by 2028.

Maddy summarySB 849, known as the Real Tickets, Real Fans Act, aims to protect consumers in North Carolina by regulating how entertainment event tickets are sold and resold. The bill defines specific terms like 'bots' and 'speculative tickets' and requires ticket sellers to clearly display the total price, including all mandatory fees, before a purchase is completed. It also prohibits the sale of speculative tickets, which are tickets not yet owned by the seller, and bans resellers from selling more than one copy of the same ticket. Additionally, the law restricts resellers from selling tickets before they are made available to the general public unless authorized by the event organizer.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands retirement options for first responders in North Carolina, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel, by allowing them to retire with full benefits after completing 25 years of service. It establishes a new retirement provision effective January 1, 2027, which calculates pension amounts based on a specific percentage of average final compensation multiplied by years of service, rather than requiring employees to wait until age 55 or meet stricter age and service thresholds. The legislation also clarifies definitions for these roles within state and local retirement systems and ensures that individuals killed in the line of duty can access these benefits regardless of their age. Additionally, the bill permits eligible first responders to retire electronically or in writing after meeting the 25-year service requirement, even if they do not retire immediately upon becoming eligible.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how North Carolina public schools must handle health screenings for students, specifically affecting parents and school districts. It requires schools to notify parents before administering vision, hearing, dental, or developmental screenings, while allowing schools to conduct these screenings without explicit consent as long as parents are informed of the results. Additionally, the legislation allocates $25,000 for a 2026-2027 campaign to increase awareness of student health options and addresses the need for clear communication regarding health services and student well-being.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires North Carolina public schools to immediately notify parents and guardians of credible threats against students, staff, or the campus, such as violence, weapons, or lockdowns. It mandates that these alerts be sent through at least two different methods, including a phone call for high-level emergencies, and must include details about the threat and the school's response. The legislation also establishes penalties for schools that fail to provide these notifications, which can include financial fines, corrective action plans, or the termination of responsible administrators. Additionally, the bill creates a School Safety Fund and reinstates a task force to oversee these safety measures and annual transparency reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents the elimination of medical benefits for retired teachers and state employees in North Carolina who began their careers on or after January 1, 2021. It achieves this by removing previous restrictions that would have ended these benefits and applies retroactively to December 31, 2020. To cover the resulting increase in healthcare costs, the legislation appropriates two million dollars from the state's general fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The changes are scheduled to officially take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care providers in North Carolina to match the rates paid by Medicare. To fund these increases, the state would allocate $48 million from its General Fund starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2026, and would apply to primary care services as defined by a specific state task force report.