Sen. Woodson Bradley

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 673 protects licensed healthcare professionals (physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and registered nurses) employed by hospitals in North Carolina. It prohibits hospitals and stakeholders from retaliating against these workers for reporting safety concerns, ethical violations, or breaches of hospital medical staff rules. The bill also bans non-compete clauses in hospital employment contracts and requires nondisclosure agreements to explicitly allow reporting of safety or legal violations. Violations of these provisions make the agreements unenforceable, with affected workers entitled to damages and legal fees.

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.

Maddy summarySB 684 creates a 25% tax credit for North Carolina corporations that make charitable donations of at least $1,000 to permanent funds held by qualifying community foundations. The credit, capped at $50,000 per corporation annually and limited to a total $12.5 million statewide each year, directly affects corporations making qualifying donations and community foundations meeting specific criteria (like serving local communities and having community-led governance). The bill requires foundations to maintain permanent funds for community development and mandates annual reporting on the program’s impact. The tax credit expires for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2029.

Maddy summarySB 682 appropriates $6.5 million in one-time state funds for capital improvements at the Charlotte Nature Museum, operated by Discovery Place, Inc. The bill allocates $1.5 million specifically for completing sidewalks, parking lots, and electric vehicle charging stations across the museum property, and $5 million for the Tree Canopy Walk project, including its construction, safety features, accessibility upgrades, and educational exhibits. These funds are designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and will directly support physical infrastructure and visitor experience enhancements at the museum. The project benefits the museum's operations and the public who visit the facility.

Maddy summarySB 707 modifies North Carolina retirement rules for law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System. It allows LEOs to retire with full, unreduced benefits after 25 years of creditable service, regardless of age (replacing previous age/service requirements). The bill specifies that LEOs retiring on or after January 1, 2026, will receive a benefit calculated as 1.82% of their average final salary multiplied by their years of service, without age-based reductions. This change directly affects current and future LEOs who meet the 25-year service threshold, providing them equal retirement benefits to non-LEO members who reach 30 years of service.