Sen. Kevin Corbin

Maddy summarySB 441 revives and expands a program allowing retired teachers to return to work in high-need North Carolina schools without losing their retirement benefits. The bill requires school districts to certify these teachers to the retirement system annually and mandates monthly reports on their employment terms and pay. Retired educators rehired under this program retain their full retirement allowance, and school districts must cover employer health insurance premiums for them. This directly affects retired teachers returning to high-need schools, school districts hiring them, and the state retirement system’s benefit calculations. The program expires June 30, 2027, unless IRS status is jeopardized, triggering automatic repeal.

Maddy summarySB 286 increases licensing fees for nurses in North Carolina by doubling most existing rates. It directly affects registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and applicants seeking new licenses, renewals, or reinstatements. Key provisions include raising application fees (e.g., $75 to $150 for registered nurses), renewal fees (e.g., $100 to $200 for two-year periods), and reinstatement costs. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and ensures fees cover board expenses without state treasury funding. No refunds are provided for paid fees under this updated schedule.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies rules for insurance producers exchanging business between licensed agents. It allows producers to transfer client insurance business to another licensed producer (who is also appointed with the same insurer) and split commissions, provided both agents are properly licensed, disclose the transfer to the insurer and consumer, and believe the exchange complies with the law. The bill specifically permits this for standard business types while excluding general business exchanges without these safeguards. It applies to contracts entered into or renewed after the law takes effect.

Maddy summarySB 271 clarifies permitted insurance rebate practices in North Carolina by defining specific exceptions to existing rebate prohibitions. It allows insurers and producers to offer value-added services (like risk assessments, financial wellness tools, or post-loss support) at no or reduced cost, provided they meet criteria such as being reasonably priced relative to premiums and not being discriminatory. The bill also permits non-cash gifts under $250 per policy term and small raffles with prizes under $250, as long as they don’t require insurance purchases. These provisions directly affect insurers, producers, and their employees who market or sell insurance policies. The bill explicitly maintains bans on direct premium rebates or "free" insurance promotions not specified in the policy.

Maddy summarySB 278, the Smart Heart Act, requires all North Carolina public schools to create cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs) and install at least one AED per school. The plan must include trained response teams, annual drills, staff CPR/AED training (for nurses and athletic supervisors), and integration with local emergency services. Schools must place AEDs in unlocked, visible locations accessible within three minutes, with maintenance and training protocols set by the State Board of Education. The bill allocates $2 million for school AED purchases and plan development, effective for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 268 amends North Carolina's Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Act to update financial requirements for PEOs seeking or maintaining a license. The bill extends the deadline for submitting an audited financial statement from 90 to 120 days before application and requires PEOs to maintain at least $50,000 in tangible net worth with positive working capital. PEOs with negative working capital must provide an additional surety bond equal to the negative amount. Additionally, the bill clarifies that multiple PEOs under the same parent can apply for a single group license, with each member guaranteeing the financial obligations of all others.

Maddy summarySB 155 establishes the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact to allow licensed social workers in North Carolina to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed social workers, particularly those serving military families or providing telehealth services, by removing barriers to cross-state practice. The bill creates a system where a "home state" license permits practice in all member states (called "remote states") through mutual recognition, reducing duplicate licensing requirements. Key provisions include standardized disciplinary information sharing between states and ensuring social workers comply with the laws of the state where the client is located during service.

Maddy summarySB 259, the School Psychologist Omnibus, aims to improve the number and quality of school psychologists in North Carolina public schools. It provides $8.1 million for 2025-2026 to increase school psychologists' salaries by $650 monthly plus 12% for those with NCSP credentials, and allocates $5 million for a grant program offering signing bonuses (up to $5,000) to recruit psychologists, requiring a one-year commitment. Another $5 million funds an internship program with stipends for psychology students and supervisor bonuses, while $5 million supports a virtual training program at Appalachian State University. These provisions directly affect school psychologists, school districts, and psychology training programs across North Carolina.

Maddy summarySB 191 requires North Carolina's Center for Safer Schools to create an interactive presentation about the legal, medical, and emotional consequences of gun use, substance abuse, and gun safety for students. It mandates all public school districts to provide this presentation to every 7th and 9th grader annually, with schools required to notify parents 14 days in advance and allow opt-outs. The bill allocates $900,000 in recurring funds for the Center to develop materials and train schools, effective for the 2026-2027 school year. This policy directly affects 7th and 9th grade students and school districts across North Carolina.

Maddy summarySB 179 appropriates $2.5 million from North Carolina's General Fund annually for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund middle school programming through the nonprofit Voices Together. The bill directly supports middle school students in North Carolina school systems who have intellectual or developmental disabilities or experience learning delays, preparing them for future employment services. This funding enables Voices Together to expand its existing high school-level transition services to younger students through structured educational programming. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is currently pending in the Senate.