Sen. Tim Moffitt

Maddy summarySB 614 requires owners of high-hazard or intermediate-hazard dams in North Carolina to develop and submit Emergency Action Plans within 90 days of a dam's classification. These plans must include emergency response procedures, evacuation protocols, and a downstream flood map (unless the dam is under 15 feet tall or stores less than 50 acre-feet of water). Owners must update and resubmit the plans annually for department review. The bill clarifies that flood maps don't need professional engineering oversight for most dams, except those linked to coal ash impoundments, and ensures sensitive security details remain confidential. It takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to new submissions after that date.

Maddy summarySB 499, "Allow Housing Near Jobs," requires North Carolina local governments to automatically permit residential development - including converting existing commercial buildings - anywhere areas are currently zoned for commercial, office, or retail use. It eliminates the need for special permits or zoning amendments in these zones, directly affecting developers and local planning departments. The bill does not override building or fire codes but takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to increase housing options near job centers.

Maddy summarySB 497 requires all North Carolina local governments to allow "middle housing" types - including duplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, and similar multi-unit structures - in every residentially zoned area, including zones currently permitting only single-family homes. It prohibits local governments from blocking these housing types through excessive regulations, such as requiring public hearings, restricting building height to less than three stories, or mandating commercial building codes or fire sprinklers. The law also prevents restrictions on long-term rentals and private parking arrangements, while exempting historic districts and requiring existing municipal infrastructure (water/sewer systems) to be available. Local governments must use the same permitting processes for middle housing as for single-family homes, with an 18-month implementation deadline. This bill aims to increase housing options and affordability by expanding where multi-unit housing can be developed without changing zoning maps.

Maddy summarySB 504, the North Carolina Farmland and Military Protection Act, prohibits foreign governments designated as "adversarial" by the U.S. Department of State from purchasing, leasing, or holding interests in agricultural land or land within 75 miles of military installations in North Carolina. The bill defines agricultural land broadly (excluding small research leases under 250 acres) and specifically lists military sites like Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Any violation would void the transfer, and the law takes effect on December 1, 2025. This directly affects adversarial foreign governments seeking to acquire such land, aiming to protect food production and military security.

Maddy summarySB 619 establishes North Carolina's AI Academic Support Grant Program, providing $10,060,560 in recurring funds for public school districts to contract with Khan Academy for its Khanmigo AI tool. The program directly affects public schools serving grades 6-12, requiring districts to use funds exclusively for Khanmigo licenses, associated teacher training, and secure class rostering systems approved by the state. Schools must annually evaluate Khanmigo's use and report metrics like student interactions, teacher usage, and impacts on learning outcomes to the legislature. A separate study by the Office of Learning Research will measure Khanmigo's effectiveness on student performance, with results due by April 2028.

Maddy summarySB 654 eliminates the requirement for audiologists in North Carolina to hold two separate licenses (a doctoral degree plus a specific license), streamlining licensure for the profession. It directly affects audiologists, audiology technicians, and assistants by removing redundant licensing barriers. The bill also requires sellers of "locked hearing aids" (hearing aids with software restricting service to specific providers) to provide written disclosures to consumers before sale, including a notice about service limitations and a detailed receipt. Sellers must retain these records for seven years. These changes aim to align licensing with current practices while increasing consumer transparency about hearing aid service restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 670 prohibits North Carolina state agencies and local governments from purchasing small drones (under 55 pounds) manufactured or assembled by specific foreign vendors. It directly affects all state and local entities that use public funds for drone acquisitions, banning purchases from vendors on U.S. sanctions lists, based in China or Russia, or controlled by those governments. The law prevents the use of any state funds - including through contracts or grants - for such purchases, effective July 1, 2027. It applies to all "small unmanned aircraft systems" operated without direct human control, regardless of whether they are recoverable or expendable.

Maddy summarySB 668 establishes a licensing system for genetic counselors in North Carolina by creating a five-member Genetic Counselors Licensure Board. The bill requires genetic counselors to obtain a license from this board to practice, defines key terms like "genetic counseling" and "genetic counselor," and sets standards for licensure, supervision of interns, and continuing education. It directly affects genetic counselors and genetic counseling interns practicing in North Carolina by mandating licensure under the new framework. The board will handle applications, renewals, disciplinary actions, and develop rules to regulate the profession. The bill does not address healthcare access or costs but focuses on professional standards and oversight.

Maddy summarySB 688 amends North Carolina's local government planning and development laws, directly affecting cities and counties by limiting their zoning authority. It prohibits local governments from regulating specific building design elements (like exterior colors, roof styles, or window placement) except in historic districts or for safety code compliance. The bill also bans minimum building size requirements for residential properties, overly large parking space standards (beyond ADA requirements), and unnecessary road design rules. All changes take effect January 1, 2026, making inconsistent local ordinances void.

Maddy summarySB 709 reorganizes North Carolina's state investment laws by restructuring existing statutes into a new "2025 State Investment Modernization Act." It creates the North Carolina Investment Authority as an independent state agency within the Treasurer's office, granting it autonomy from budgetary controls by the Treasurer, Budget Director, and Department of Administration. The bill establishes definitions, tax exemptions for the authority, and confidentiality rules for investment negotiations, but does not change investment policies or fund management practices. This is a procedural reorganization of legal structure, not a policy change affecting specific residents or programs.