Sen. Michael Lazzara

Maddy summarySB 63 establishes a nine-member Board of Motor Vehicles to oversee North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles, replacing the current structure where the Commissioner is appointed by the Transportation Secretary. The Board will appoint the Motor Vehicles Commissioner and include members from the Transportation Secretary, Information Technology Secretary, Highway Patrol, and appointments by the Governor and General Assembly. The bill also mandates a study by the Department of Transportation to evaluate creating a separate Motor Vehicle Authority (replacing the current Division), including feasibility, required legal changes, a timeline, and implementation steps. The study must be completed and reported to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026, but does not create the Authority itself.

Maddy summarySB 505 clarifies definitions and creates procedures for addressing abandoned or derelict vessels in North Carolina waters and on public/private land. It defines "abandoned vessels" as those left unattended for 30+ days without permission or intent to reclaim, and "derelict vessels" as those in disrepair posing safety or environmental risks. The bill gives the Commission authority to remove such vessels after posting notices, with owners having 10 days to respond before removal. It also sets time limits (30 days on land, 10 days in water) for vessel anchoring without permission and exempts historic shipwrecks under state custody. This directly affects boat owners, property owners, and state agencies responsible for waterway safety.

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 summaryThis bill exempts UL-certified sign manufacturers from North Carolina's general contractor licensing requirements when installing signs, awnings, or related architectural features. It requires building permit applicants claiming this exemption to provide UL certification documentation and a sworn affidavit verifying their certification. Building inspectors must submit this documentation to the licensing board for verification, and permits may be revoked if certification is invalid. The exemption applies solely to sign manufacturing work, not other construction activities.

Maddy summarySB 535 regulates hemp-derived beverages (nonalcoholic drinks containing hemp or specific cannabinoids like CBD or THC variants) by creating a new regulatory framework under North Carolina's alcohol beverage laws. It prohibits manufacturing, selling, or possessing these beverages without authorization from the ABC Commission, which will set safety standards and labeling rules. The bill directly affects businesses producing or selling hemp-based drinks, requiring them to comply with ABC Commission regulations starting July 1, 2025. This law does not legalize hemp beverages but establishes the process for their oversight, distinct from alcohol regulations.

Maddy summarySB 614 requires owners of high-hazard or intermediate-hazard dams in North Carolina to develop and submit Emergency Action Plans within 90 days of a dam's classification. These plans must include emergency response procedures, evacuation protocols, and a downstream flood map (unless the dam is under 15 feet tall or stores less than 50 acre-feet of water). Owners must update and resubmit the plans annually for department review. The bill clarifies that flood maps don't need professional engineering oversight for most dams, except those linked to coal ash impoundments, and ensures sensitive security details remain confidential. It takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to new submissions after that date.

Maddy summarySB 700 creates a new Office of Engineering and Codes within North Carolina's Department of Labor to centralize oversight of building codes, manufactured housing standards, and home inspection regulations. It transfers existing councils and boards - including the Building Code Council, Manufactured Housing Board, and Home Inspector Licensure Board - to this office, which will be led by a State Engineer appointed by the Labor Commissioner (with Senate confirmation). The State Engineer gains authority to adopt rules, enforce compliance, impose civil penalties (ranging from $100 to $1,000 per violation), and conduct investigations, while ensuring public access to most records. This bill directly affects contractors, home inspectors, manufacturers, and local governments responsible for code enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 724 prohibits unauthorized camping in public parks, sidewalks, and other public spaces (like non-designated areas), except for temporary sites specifically approved for homeless encampments. It defines "public camping" as using tents, bedding, or personal items on public property without authorization, making violations a misdemeanor punishable by fines or short jail time (with first offenses directed to shelters instead of charges). Local governments must enforce this ban and cannot allow regular camping on non-designated public areas, while citizens can sue municipalities that fail to comply. The bill also withholds state homelessness funding from counties or cities that violate these provisions and fail to correct violations after notice.

Maddy summarySB 734 clarifies that specific man-made ditches - such as roadside ditches, culverts, and storm channels - are excluded from North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA). The bill defines "man-made ditches" in Section 1 and explicitly removes them from CAMA's coverage of estuarine waters, environmental concern areas, and public trust rights under Sections 2, 3, and 4. This means landowners and developers maintaining these ditches will no longer require CAMA permits for them. The bill focuses on clarifying existing law rather than creating new regulations. It directly affects activities involving minor drainage features in coastal zones.

Maddy summarySB 758 (Water and Sewer Allocation Reforms) prohibits local governments in North Carolina from imposing unauthorized conditions on water or sewer service for new residential housing projects (single-family or multifamily). It bans requirements like extra fees, design restrictions, or arbitrary scoring systems for allocating service, and mandates quarterly public reports on infrastructure capacity. Local governments receiving public funds must publish capacity data, develop annual expansion plans, and prioritize areas facing imminent shortages. The bill directly affects developers seeking service and local governments managing water/sewer systems, ensuring service allocation is based on available capacity - not arbitrary rules. Violations can trigger court-ordered compliance or fines up to $5,000 per day.