Sen. Julie Mayfield

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 488) changes North Carolina's process for establishing paternity for children born to unmarried parents. It requires unmarried mothers and fathers to complete a specific affidavit to have the father's name added to a birth certificate, including sworn statements, plain-language explanations of parental rights, and social security numbers. The affidavit must be filed with the state registrar, but it does not automatically grant inheritance rights - those require separate filing with the court under G.S. 29-19. The bill directly affects unmarried parents seeking to establish paternity on birth certificates and state officials processing birth records. It clarifies that the birth certificate process and inheritance rights are separate legal matters.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies North Carolina's Cosmetic Art Act to create a new professional category called "hair designer" specifically for natural hair care services. It reduces the training hours required to become a licensed cosmetologist and removes the apprenticeship requirement for licensure. The legislation also formally defines "natural hair care" as services that involve tension on hair strands through twisting, wrapping, extending, or locking. These changes aim to deregulate certain hair care practices while establishing new licensing pathways for specialists in that field.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a specific restriction that previously limited the total size of satellite annexations for the Town of Weaverville to 10% of its primary area. By deleting Weaverville from a long list of municipalities exempt from this rule, the legislation allows the town to annex noncontiguous land beyond that 10% cap. The change directly affects the Town of Weaverville and its ability to expand its boundaries in a way that was previously prohibited.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $319 million from the state's General Fund to North Carolina's Medicaid program to cover anticipated changes in enrollment, service costs, and federal funding rates. The money is designated for the Department of Health and Human Services to use starting in the 2025-2027 fiscal year, with the funding officially beginning retroactively on July 1, 2025. By adjusting available funds based on projected healthcare shifts, the legislation aims to ensure the Medicaid program has sufficient resources to operate as demographics and costs evolve.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill requires that the salaries of state legislators be held in escrow if the General Assembly does not pass a budget by June 30, 2026. If the Senate and House do not ratify a state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by that deadline, the pay earned by legislators from July 1, 2026, forward will be withheld. The withheld funds will be released only after the legislature ratifies a budget or adjourns for the year. The legislation also sets aside ten thousand dollars to cover the administrative costs of managing the escrow account.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows North Carolina residents to install small, portable solar power systems up to 1.92 kilowatts without needing approval or paying fees from their electric utility. To ensure safety, the law requires these devices to have automatic shut-off features during power outages and mandates certification for larger units, while also exempting them from standard net metering programs. Additionally, the bill directs the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors to run a public awareness campaign funded by $100,000 to educate the public on electrical safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new fund called the Contaminated Parks Remedial Account to help clean up environmental hazards in public parks across North Carolina. It directs money from taxes on trash disposal and corporate income to pay for assessing and fixing pre-1983 landfills or other inactive hazardous sites that make parks unusable. Local governments that own the affected parks must contribute one dollar for every four dollars provided by the state to share the cost of cleanup. The program is scheduled to begin in 2026, with funding amounts gradually increasing over time as more tax revenue is generated.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies tax exemptions for nonprofit hospitals in North Carolina by linking property tax relief directly to the cost of charity care provided to low-income patients. Under the new rules, a hospital's property tax exemption is calculated based on the actual cost of services given to uninsured or underinsured individuals with family incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, the legislation expands sales tax refunds for nonprofit hospitals, allowing them to recover taxes on over-the-counter drugs and capping the total refund at the lesser of a fixed dollar amount or the hospital's verified charity care costs. These changes are designed to ensure that tax benefits are tied to specific charitable activities rather than general operations. The provisions will take effect for tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Frontline Mental Health Support Program in North Carolina to offer confidential counseling to public school teachers and first responders who face occupational stress. Eligible employees, including law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, can access up to 12 licensed therapy sessions per year through in-person or telehealth options. The legislation appropriates $13 million in recurring funds starting in 2026-2027 to establish the program and expand the behavioral health workforce via grants to providers. It also mandates that participation cannot be used as grounds for any adverse employment actions and requires a report on the program's implementation by 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care providers in North Carolina to match the rates paid by Medicare. To fund these increases, the state would allocate $48 million from its General Fund starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2026, and would apply to primary care services as defined by a specific state task force report.