Sen. Woodson Bradley

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (not a policy bill) confirming the Governor's appointment of Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr., as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. It requires the Senate to formally consider his nomination, as mandated by North Carolina law (G.S. 143B-9(a) and the state constitution) for all heads of principal state departments. The resolution itself does not change any laws or policies but sets the process for the Senate to provide "advice and consent" on the appointment. It directly affects the Governor's nomination process and the Senate's confirmation authority for state department leaders.

Maddy summarySB 155 establishes the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact to allow licensed social workers in North Carolina to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed social workers, particularly those serving military families or providing telehealth services, by removing barriers to cross-state practice. The bill creates a system where a "home state" license permits practice in all member states (called "remote states") through mutual recognition, reducing duplicate licensing requirements. Key provisions include standardized disciplinary information sharing between states and ensuring social workers comply with the laws of the state where the client is located during service.

Maddy summarySB 264 requires all North Carolina public schools - including traditional, charter, regional, and laboratory schools - to display the U.S. and North Carolina flags in every classroom and near each school's main entrance, while scheduling daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The bill also mandates age-appropriate instruction about the flags' historical significance and the pledge's meaning. Schools may not compel students or staff to stand, salute, or recite the pledge. Funding of $1 million (one-time) and $100,000 annually is provided to purchase flags, with displays only required if flags are available through donations or purchase.

Maddy summarySB 242, the H.A.L.L. Accountability Act, repeals a previous law (S.L. 2023-134, Section 27.7(d)) that kept redistricting documents private. It requires all redistricting documents to be treated as public records, making them accessible to the public. This directly affects North Carolina legislators, state agencies, and local governments involved in redistricting by mandating transparency in their process. The bill changes the legal status of these documents from non-public to public records upon enactment.

Maddy summarySB 247 redirects $6.25 million annually from crisis pregnancy centers to evidence-based maternal and infant health programs administered by North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services, starting July 2025. It requires the State Auditor to audit Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship by March 2026 and mandates detailed reporting from all crisis pregnancy centers receiving state funds. These centers must disclose service types, demographics of clients, funding sources, and whether they misrepresent as medical facilities. The bill aims to increase transparency and reallocate resources toward proven maternal health initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a Class F felony in North Carolina to participate in a riot where someone attempts to overthrow the U.S. government, North Carolina government, or a local government (like a city or county). It also makes it a felony to incite such a riot if the incitement directly contributes to an attempt to overthrow government. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025, and amends existing riot statutes to add this specific government-overthrow element as a felony trigger. It does not address past events, including the January 6, 2021, Capitol incident.

Maddy summarySB 194 allows Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) to align their academic calendar with the calendar of a local community college, removing standard state-mandated opening (August 26) and closing (June 11) dates for CMS. The bill amends state law to explicitly permit this alignment as an exception to the standard calendar requirements, directly affecting only CMS. This change applies starting the 2025-2026 school year and aims to better coordinate school schedules with community college terms.

Maddy summarySB 213, titled "42nd Senatorial District Local Act-1," is a procedural bill that solely pertains to North Carolina's 42nd Senatorial District. It contains no substantive policy changes or provisions; Section 1 states it "relates only to the 42nd Senatorial District," and Section 2 specifies it takes effect upon enactment. This bill does not directly affect residents, change laws, or alter any responsibilities. It is a routine procedural measure, common for local district-related matters, and has no policy implications beyond its limited scope.

Maddy summarySB 161, the Jenesis Firearm Accountability Act, requires firearm owners in North Carolina to report lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement within 48 hours. Owners must provide details like the firearm’s serial number and location, with penalties starting at a written warning for a first offense and escalating to $1,000 fines for repeat violations. The bill also exempts from sales tax equipment designed to prevent unauthorized firearm access, such as gun safes or trigger locks, and allocates $500,000 for an educational campaign about reporting requirements. It aims to improve public safety by aiding law enforcement tracking and reducing firearm misuse, while protecting owners who comply with the reporting rules.

Maddy summarySB 138 restores local government authority to initiate down-zoning in Mecklenburg County and its municipalities without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. The bill amends state law to remove a prior requirement that down-zoning (reducing development density or permitted land uses) needed all property owner agreements, allowing counties or cities to implement such changes directly. It applies specifically to Mecklenburg County and its municipalities, taking effect retroactively to December 11, 2024, to revert affected ordinances to their pre-December 11 state. This change directly affects property owners in the region by altering how local governments can modify zoning regulations impacting their land.