Sen. Tim Moffitt

Maddy summarySB 700 creates a new Office of Engineering and Codes within North Carolina's Department of Labor to centralize oversight of building codes, manufactured housing standards, and home inspection regulations. It transfers existing councils and boards - including the Building Code Council, Manufactured Housing Board, and Home Inspector Licensure Board - to this office, which will be led by a State Engineer appointed by the Labor Commissioner (with Senate confirmation). The State Engineer gains authority to adopt rules, enforce compliance, impose civil penalties (ranging from $100 to $1,000 per violation), and conduct investigations, while ensuring public access to most records. This bill directly affects contractors, home inspectors, manufacturers, and local governments responsible for code enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 701 allows North Carolina state and local law enforcement officers with at least 30 years of service to continue receiving retirement benefits while remaining actively employed. Specifically, officers aged 59.5 or older can elect to receive their retirement allowance without separating from their current law enforcement position. The bill requires employers to cover both employee and employer retirement contributions during this period, while prohibiting additional service credit accrual or eligibility for disability/supplemental retirement benefits. This policy directly affects qualifying officers who wish to stay on duty while maintaining their retirement income.

Maddy summarySB 705 requires North Carolina state agencies to assess the financial impact of proposed permanent rules that would cost affected individuals or businesses at least $1 million over five years. For rules costing $1 million or more, agencies must obtain budget office approval for a fiscal note and secure a two-thirds vote for adoption. Rules costing $10 million or more require unanimous agency approval (unless federally mandated), with all cost analyses needing to be monetized and include net present value calculations. This bill applies to all state agencies creating new permanent rules, aiming to ensure significant financial impacts undergo formal review before implementation.

Maddy summarySB 713 prevents North Carolina local governments (like cities and counties) from creating environmental rules stricter than state or federal law. It requires local ordinances to align with existing state/federal standards, unless the General Assembly specifically authorizes exceptions. Local governments must update all environmental rules by December 1, 2025, to comply, or those rules become invalid. The bill does not affect requirements needed to meet federal permits or National Flood Insurance Program conditions.

Maddy summarySB 724 prohibits unauthorized camping in public parks, sidewalks, and other public spaces (like non-designated areas), except for temporary sites specifically approved for homeless encampments. It defines "public camping" as using tents, bedding, or personal items on public property without authorization, making violations a misdemeanor punishable by fines or short jail time (with first offenses directed to shelters instead of charges). Local governments must enforce this ban and cannot allow regular camping on non-designated public areas, while citizens can sue municipalities that fail to comply. The bill also withholds state homelessness funding from counties or cities that violate these provisions and fail to correct violations after notice.

Maddy summarySB 758 (Water and Sewer Allocation Reforms) prohibits local governments in North Carolina from imposing unauthorized conditions on water or sewer service for new residential housing projects (single-family or multifamily). It bans requirements like extra fees, design restrictions, or arbitrary scoring systems for allocating service, and mandates quarterly public reports on infrastructure capacity. Local governments receiving public funds must publish capacity data, develop annual expansion plans, and prioritize areas facing imminent shortages. The bill directly affects developers seeking service and local governments managing water/sewer systems, ensuring service allocation is based on available capacity - not arbitrary rules. Violations can trigger court-ordered compliance or fines up to $5,000 per day.

Maddy summarySB 748 requires North Carolina public elementary schools (grades K-5) to include critical thinking instruction in their curriculum, shifting focus from memorization to evaluating information. The bill amends state education statutes to mandate this change, affecting all K-5 public schools and their curriculum planning. It takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The law does not alter existing subjects but adds critical thinking as a required component of instruction.

Maddy summarySB 759, the Minors Health Protection Act, amends North Carolina law to clarify when minors can consent to specific medical services without parental involvement and when parents can access their minor child's medical records. It allows minors to consent to treatment for venereal diseases, pregnancy, substance abuse, and emotional issues (Section 2(a)), but requires written parental consent for emergency-use vaccines not yet fully FDA-approved (Section 2(a1)). Parents generally have access to all medical records, except for records related to abuse investigations, court orders, or if the parent is under criminal investigation (Section 3(b)). The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 757, the North Carolina Consumer Privacy Act, gives residents the right to access, correct, or delete personal data collected by businesses operating in the state. It requires businesses to stop processing data when consumers request it, with key exceptions for health information (covered under existing health privacy rules) and publicly available data. The law applies to businesses that collect personal data about North Carolina residents, defining "personal data" as information that can identify an individual (like name or online activity), while excluding health data processed under healthcare laws. Enforcement would be handled by the North Carolina Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division, with specific rules for how businesses must handle consumer requests. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Rules committee.

Maddy summarySB 656 exempts natural hair care services, blow-dry styling, and makeup artistry from mandatory licensing under North Carolina's Cosmetic Art Board. It converts the existing mandatory natural hair care specialist license into a voluntary certificate and expands where these services can be offered. The bill specifically defines "natural hair care" as tension-based techniques (like twisting or wrapping hair) without chemical treatments, "blow-dry styling" as using mechanical devices without chemicals or haircutting, and "makeup artistry" as cosmetic application without other licensed services. These changes directly affect service providers and businesses offering these specific cosmetic services, reducing regulatory barriers.