Sen. Julie Mayfield

Maddy summarySB 145 proposes authorizing Mecklenburg County to levy an additional 0.5% sales tax for transportation funding, subject to voter approval. The bill requires that these funds supplement, not replace, existing transportation budgets and must be used exclusively for financing, building, operating, and maintaining public transportation systems within the county. It specifies that tax revenue must be distributed to Mecklenburg County and its public transportation authorities on a per capita basis, with strict rules against using funds for non-transportation purposes. The measure is currently pending in committee and would require a county referendum before implementation.

Maddy summarySB 584 authorizes counties to use specific sales tax revenue to fund local public transportation systems - including buses, light rail, bike lanes, and transit facilities - while requiring these funds to supplement (not replace) existing transportation budgets. It defines "public transportation system" broadly to include infrastructure like bus lanes, shared-ride services, and integrated fare systems. The bill also creates a new metropolitan public transportation authority for counties with over 1 million residents that border another state and operate light rail systems, giving them regional planning powers under specific rules. This authority would manage funding and coordination for transportation projects within its jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Simple Resolution (SR 260) formally asks the North Carolina Senate to consider confirming Dr. Devdutta Sangvai for appointment as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It follows state law requiring Senate confirmation for the Governor's appointment of a department head. The resolution triggers the Senate's formal review process for this specific nomination, which is pending under North Carolina's constitutional requirements. The bill itself does not change policy or create new rules - it solely addresses the procedural step of confirming a gubernatorial appointment.

Maddy summarySB 97 adds stomach cancer (gastric cancer) to the list of cancers presumed to be work-related for firefighters under North Carolina's Public Safety Employees' Death Benefits Act. This means firefighters who die from stomach cancer will automatically qualify for line-of-duty death benefits without needing to prove occupational connection. The bill appropriates $500,000 annually from 2025-2027 to cover these new benefits. It takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to qualifying deaths occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 518, the Mobile Home Park Act, creates new protections for mobile home residents and park operators in North Carolina. It requires written leases for tenancies, mandates a 90-day notice period for eviction (with exceptions for lease violations), and prohibits unfair fees like excessive entry charges. The bill also requires security deposits to be held in separate trust accounts and directs the North Carolina Human Rights Commission to regulate parks and resolve disputes. This law directly affects mobile home owners, park management, and the Commission, focusing on fair treatment and clear dispute resolution.

Maddy summarySB 564, the "Public Safety Through Food Access Act," allows North Carolina to opt out of a federal ban that denies food assistance and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits to people convicted of drug-related felony offenses. It directly affects individuals convicted of Class H or I drug felonies who meet specific conditions: they must complete six months without new offenses and successfully finish or actively participate in a substance abuse treatment program approved by mental health authorities. The bill requires county social services to link food and TANF benefits to this treatment requirement, as permitted by federal law. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 570 prohibits shared ownership between medical practices (professional corporations) and management services organizations (MSOs) that provide non-clinical services. It requires that if a medical practice contracts with an MSO, the MSO must be owned entirely by licensed medical professionals - preventing physicians from being stakeholders in such MSOs. The bill also mandates that physicians retain full control over patient care decisions without interference from non-licensed individuals, MSO stakeholders, or out-of-state medical professionals. This directly affects medical practices using MSOs for administrative services and aims to ensure clinical decision-making remains under physician control. The law applies to contracts entered into on or after its effective date, with related rules required by October 2026.

Maddy summarySB 489 simplifies disclosure requirements for North Carolina charitable organizations by allowing them to satisfy state reporting obligations using the acknowledgment they receive for federal tax deductions. The bill directly affects nonprofits that seek tax-exempt status under federal law (501(c)(3)), as it eliminates the need for separate state disclosures. Key provisions include expanding permissible mergers for nonprofits to include certain tax-exempt limited liability companies (LLCs) and clarifying approval processes for such mergers. The bill also updates merger procedures to align with federal tax rules and streamline administrative requirements for nonprofit entities.

Maddy summarySB 569, the Eviction Record Expunction Act, automatically seals certain eviction court records after three years from judgment entry, for dismissed cases, tenant-victory cases, and cases involving minors under 18. It directly affects tenants with past eviction history and landlords who may otherwise deny rental applications based on those sealed records. The bill makes it illegal to deny housing based on sealed eviction records, treating such denial as unlawful discrimination under North Carolina's Fair Housing Act. This policy change applies to new eviction cases filed on or after October 1, 2025, and does not affect monetary judgments from eviction cases.

Maddy summarySB 525, the Living Wage Guarantee Act, would raise North Carolina’s minimum wage to $15 per hour for most employers starting January 1, 2026, directly affecting low-wage workers and businesses statewide. Small businesses (with fewer than 10 employees) would phase in the increase over three years, starting at $12/hour in 2026 and reaching $15/hour by 2028. The bill includes automatic annual wage adjustments tied to the cost-of-living index starting in 2028 to maintain purchasing power. It also establishes a $10 million state fund to support small businesses during the transition and strengthens enforcement by allowing workers to seek back pay and protecting them from retaliation.