Sen. Tim Moffitt

Maddy summarySB 129, the Booking Photograph Privacy Act, prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies from releasing booking photographs - images taken during arrest or jail processing - making them confidential and not public records. The law directly affects individuals arrested and processed by police departments, sheriff's offices, or other law enforcement agencies. It bans publishing, distributing, or releasing these photos except when connected to a missing person report or if a court orders release for immediate law enforcement needs. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 109, the Veterans Appreciation Act, increases property tax relief for disabled veterans in North Carolina by expanding the homestead exclusion to cover the value increase from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) housing grants. It directly affects disabled veterans who receive VA housing grants for service-connected disabilities, allowing them to exclude up to $45,000 of their home’s appraised value plus grant-funded improvements from property taxes. The bill adds a prequalification process, letting veterans apply in advance of purchasing a home to confirm eligibility, with county assessors required to notify applicants within 30 days. This change takes effect for property taxes on homes owned after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 113 creates a new process for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized occupants (squatters) from residential property. Property owners or their authorized representatives must file a sworn affidavit with a court clerk or magistrate, pay a $25 fee, and provide specific details proving the occupant has no legal claim (e.g., no rent paid, not a tenant, and directed to leave). Once the affidavit is processed, local law enforcement must remove the person within 24 hours. This process does not apply to tenants with valid leases or rental agreements.

Maddy summarySB 24 requires that any new state health insurance mandate must be paired with the repeal of an existing mandate and include funding to cover the new cost. It directly affects North Carolina employers (especially small businesses) and taxpayers by targeting mandates that increase insurance premiums and state health plan expenses. Key provisions mandate that new health benefit requirements (like coverage for specific treatments or drugs) must include both a repeal of an equivalent existing mandate and recurring state funding for the new cost. The bill applies to all health insurance plans, including the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees, and takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 96 increases the flat penalty for tax payments returned due to insufficient funds or non-existent accounts from $25 to $35. It directly affects taxpayers who submit checks or electronic payments for taxes that bounce. The bill replaces the previous $25 penalty with a fixed $35 fee, while maintaining the same maximum cap of $1,000 and the exception for accidental errors. This change applies to all tax payments made on or after July 1, 2025. The bill does not alter the existing interest or criminal penalty structures for unpaid taxes.

Maddy summarySB 95 allows small North Carolina sawmills (producing under 1 million board feet annually) to sell ungraded lumber for use in one- and two-family homes and certain residential structures, directly affecting small sawmill operators and homebuilders. The bill requires sawmill operators to complete state-approved training, mark lumber with specific details (species, mill ID, PS20 compliance), and provide buyers with a compliance certificate. It modifies building codes to permit this ungraded lumber use while mandating code officials review structures for safety but absolving them of liability for failures related to the lumber type. The policy change aims to support small sawmills by expanding their market access under defined safety and transparency conditions.

Maddy summarySB 92 allows North Carolina public school students to leave class during the school day for religious moral instruction courses, with parental consent required. The bill permits up to five hours per week for these courses, prohibits public funds from covering course costs (beyond minimal administrative fees), and requires religious organizations to provide transportation and maintain attendance records. Students may earn up to two elective credits for successful completion, but courses must be evaluated using secular criteria (like class hours and syllabus) without considering religious content. The law applies to all public school units starting in the 2025-2026 school year and prohibits holding such courses on school property unless under a neutral equal-access policy.

Maddy summarySB 86 increases North Carolina firefighters' monthly pension payments from $175 to $180 starting January 1, 2025, for eligible members who reach age 55 with 20 years of service. It updates disability benefit rules, clarifies death benefits for firefighters killed on duty (including monthly payments to surviving spouses or beneficiaries), and adds protections for members displaced by city annexations or department takeovers. These changes directly affect current and future firefighters, rescue squad workers, their families, and members whose departments are absorbed by municipalities. The bill modifies existing pension fund statutes without creating new programs or altering contribution requirements.

Maddy summarySB 71 creates a new process for North Carolina property owners or their authorized representatives to expedite the removal of unauthorized occupants from residential properties. To use this process, the property owner must file a sworn affidavit (with a $25 fee) with a court clerk or magistrate, confirming the occupant meets strict criteria like having no lease, no rent paid, and the owner having previously requested their departure. Law enforcement must remove the occupant within 24 hours of receiving the affidavit, and the bill grants immunity to law enforcement and property owners acting in good faith. It also allows civil lawsuits against property owners for wrongful removal, with potential damages including triple the fair market rent.

Maddy summarySB 78 designates Sparta's annual Fried Apple Pie Festival as North Carolina's official Fried Apple Pie Festival. The bill, which would be enacted through a new section of state law, formally recognizes the event held every May at the Town of Sparta's Alleghany County Fairgrounds. This designation applies solely to the festival's status as the state's official event, with no new funding, regulations, or policy changes. The bill affects the festival's community and its organizers by granting it official state recognition. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences as specified.)