Sen. Tim Moffitt

Maddy summarySB 332, the Health Care Practitioner Transparency Act, requires health care professionals (like doctors, nurses, and dentists) who advertise services to clearly state their specific license or certification type in all marketing materials (such as websites, brochures, or business cards). It prohibits using misleading titles (e.g., "cardiologist" or "surgeon") if not licensed for that specialty, and bans false claims about qualifications. The law applies to all patient-facing practitioners in advertising, with enforcement handled by licensing boards through disciplinary actions for violations. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not apply to non-patient-facing roles like administrative staff.

Maddy summarySB 333 prevents UNC system schools and community colleges from following accrediting agency rules that conflict with North Carolina or federal law. It requires these institutions to prioritize existing state/federal laws over accreditation demands, ensuring they cannot violate legal standards to comply with outside requirements. Certain professional programs - like law, pharmacy, engineering, and others identified by governing boards - are exempt from this rule. The bill clarifies that institutions must not take actions violating current law due to accreditation standards, while maintaining exemptions for programs with specialized accreditation needs.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill (SB 346) provides limited legal immunity for people who seek medical help during drug or alcohol overdoses. It protects individuals from minor charges (like possession of less than 1 gram of drugs or underage alcohol consumption) if they call 911 or assist others in calling for overdose emergencies, provided they act in good faith, provide their name, and weren’t seeking help during an active arrest. The immunity also extends to the overdose victim themselves and prevents probation/parole revocation for these covered offenses. The law applies to acts occurring on or after October 1, 2025, and does not affect evidence collection for other crimes.

Maddy summarySB 327, the North Carolina Bitcoin Reserve and Investment Act, authorizes the State Treasurer to allocate up to 10% of public funds into Bitcoin as a long-term strategic reserve. It requires the Treasurer to hold Bitcoin in secure offline storage with multi-signature protection, establish a dedicated department for management, and create an advisory board of industry experts. The reserve can only be used during severe financial crises, for approved infrastructure projects, or Bitcoin-related economic development, and requires a two-thirds vote by both legislative chambers to liquidate. The Treasurer must provide quarterly public reports on the reserve’s value and security, while complying with all federal and state cryptocurrency regulations.

Maddy summarySB 322, the Utility Worker Protection Act, increases penalties for assaulting utility or communications workers who are visibly identifiable (e.g., wearing company-logo uniforms or hats) while performing their duties. It specifically targets assaults against workers providing electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, or internet services. The bill reclassifies such assaults as Class 1 misdemeanors, raising the punishment level for these offenses. This change applies to incidents occurring on or after December 1, 2025. The law does not affect prosecutions for offenses committed before that date.

Maddy summarySB 300 (the NC REACH Act) would require all students graduating with a bachelor's degree from a University of North Carolina institution or an associate degree from a North Carolina community college to complete at least three credit hours of instruction in American history or government. The bill mandates that courses cover specific foundational documents - including the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, Federalist Papers, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, Gettysburg Address, and the North Carolina State Constitution - and include a final exam worth at least 20% of the course grade. Students may be exempted through prior coursework (e.g., AP/IB exams, dual enrollment) that meets the same requirements. The bill explicitly states it will not increase total credit hour requirements for degrees and requires annual reporting on compliance by 2026. This is a proposed bill currently in committee review.

Maddy summarySB 314 (Eliminate ETJ Overlap) prevents North Carolina cities from extending their land use authority (extraterritorial jurisdiction or ETJ) into areas within counties that have their own zoning or development regulations. The bill directly affects cities and counties by prohibiting cities from exercising powers beyond their corporate limits in counties actively enforcing zoning rules, unless the county isn't using those powers or city-county agreements exist. Key provisions require cities to get county commissioner approval for ETJ extensions beyond one mile and eliminate overlapping land use authority between cities and counties. This change streamlines land use decisions by clarifying that county zoning regulations take precedence in areas where counties are actively managing development.

Maddy summarySB 312, the "Stars and Stripes Commitment Act," requires all North Carolina public schools (including charter, regional, and laboratory schools) to schedule daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance within one hour of the start of the school day, display U.S. and North Carolina flags in classrooms when available, and provide age-appropriate instruction about the flag and pledge. It also mandates that State Board of Education and local school governing body meetings begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. The bill explicitly states these requirements do not compel any student, staff, or attendee to stand, salute, or recite the Pledge. The law applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 320 creates an additional retirement allowance for North Carolina state and local law enforcement officers who retire after meeting specific service and age requirements. Eligible officers with at least 30 years of service (or 55+ with 5+ years) under age 62 can choose between two calculation methods for their annual allowance: one based on their current pay rate and service, or one based on their pay rate at 30 years of service. The allowance, paid monthly from state funds, stops upon the officer’s death, reaching age 62 (for the first method), or meeting a time-based condition (for the second method). This change supplements retirement income without affecting other retirement benefits or salary increases.

Maddy summarySB 317, the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, creates new rules for dividing property owned by multiple family members (known as "heirs property") where ownership is unclear and at least 20% of shares are held by relatives or acquired through family lines. If a court determines property qualifies as heirs property, it must be divided under this law unless all owners agree otherwise in writing. The bill requires courts to first determine the property's fair market value through appraisal or agreement, then offers co-owners a 45-day window to buy out others' shares at that value before a court-ordered sale. This process aims to clarify ownership for family-held land without requiring all owners to agree upfront.