Education

passed · North Carolina · House May 8, 2025

HB 854: Require Licensure of Educational Interpreters.

HB 854 removes the current exemption for educational interpreters and transliterators from state licensure requirements. This means individuals who provide accessible communication services to students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education will now be required to obtain a license. The bill also allows continuing education hours earned for license renewal to count towards their existing job-related training requirements. These changes are set to become effective on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires licensure for educational interpreters, ensuring qualified staff for student accessibility in K-12 and higher education, strengthening educational access standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · North Carolina · House May 8, 2025

HB 981: Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

HB 981 establishes an open enrollment system, allowing students to attend any public school within their local school administrative unit (district) where they are domiciled. This bill requires local school boards to adopt open enrollment plans, including an application process with specific enrollment periods, a method for parents to declare school preferences, and a lottery system if a school has more applicants than capacity. Students accepted through this process can continue attending that school in subsequent years without reapplying. The bill outlines specific reasons for denying enrollment requests, such as lack of capacity or disciplinary issues, and establishes an appeal process for denied applications, first to the local board and then to the State Board of Education. This system will be effective for the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands student access to public schools within district via open enrollment system, aligning with educational access support indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 346: Central Carolina Community College Multicampus Center Full-Time Equivalent Calculation.

HB 346 directs the State Board of Community Colleges to adjust how full-time equivalent (FTE) students are calculated for Central Carolina Community College's Harnett and Chatham main campuses. Specifically, it requires combining the FTE from each main campus with the FTE from its respective Health Sciences Center. This adjustment is made to help these campuses maintain their multicampus center status.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdjusts FTE calculation to maintain multicampus status, ensuring stable funding and operations for community colleges under higher education.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 4: Sam's Law.

House Bill 4, also known as "Sam's Law," aims to improve seizure preparedness and response in North Carolina schools. The bill requires public school units, charter schools, and other educational institutions to develop individualized Seizure Action Plans for students diagnosed with seizure disorders, in collaboration with their parents. It mandates annual seizure education programs for all K-12 school personnel and requires principals, school counselors, and teachers to complete an annual self-study on seizure disorders. Furthermore, the bill ensures at least one employee in each school is trained to administer seizure medication and requires the posting of seizure first aid information in visible areas. Various educational boards are tasked with adopting policies to implement these requirements, with $50,000 appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction for development costs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates seizure safety plans and staff training in schools, enhancing student safety and access to education for students with seizure disorders, supporting the educational environment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · North Carolina · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 636: Promoting Wholesome Content for Students.

HB 636 establishes new procedures for public school units to select and review library media and materials, affecting students, parents, and school personnel. The bill requires schools to adopt policies that ensure materials are age-appropriate and do not contain content defined as "harmful to minors," which includes depictions of sexual activity or pervasively vulgar content. It mandates a review process involving a community library advisory committee, public posting of recommended materials, and a mechanism for public objections. Additionally, the bill requires the creation of a public database for rejected materials and allows parents, guardians, students, or residents to pursue private legal action against schools violating these provisions. Principals are also required to review all media available at school book fairs for compliance.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts school library content by mandating exclusion of specified materials, limiting curriculum options and academic freedom in educational settings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Education

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passed · North Carolina · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 69: Military and Veterans Educational Promise Act.

HB 69, the Military and Veterans Educational Promise Act, provides two key benefits for military-affiliated individuals and veterans at North Carolina's University of North Carolina (UNC) schools. First, it requires UNC institutions to allow eligible military members (including reservists) and their spouses to defer admission for up to five years (for active duty) or two years (for reserve service) upon enrollment notice. Second, it establishes in-state tuition rates for honorably discharged veterans who served at least 90 days in the military, graduated from a North Carolina high school after 2004, had a North Carolina duty station, or received a Purple Heart. The bill applies to all UNC institutions beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access for veterans via in-state tuition benefits and admission deferral options at UNC institutions.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides in-state tuition and admission deferral for veterans, directly expanding educational benefits and access to UNC schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 397: Use of Epinephrine Nasal Spray.

HB 397 allows schools in North Carolina to use epinephrine nasal spray as an emergency treatment option alongside traditional auto-injectors for students experiencing anaphylaxis. The bill amends school health policies to include nasal spray devices in the definition of "epinephrine auto-injector delivery systems," requiring all schools to maintain at least two emergency epinephrine supplies (now including nasal spray) in secure but accessible locations. Schools must train staff to recognize anaphylaxis symptoms, store devices properly, and follow emergency action plans developed with school nurses. This applies to public schools, charter schools, and regional schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The policy directly affects school staff, students with severe allergies, and school health protocols.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances school safety protocols for student health emergencies, directly supporting student well-being and access to education through updated health policies.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands emergency anaphylaxis treatment options in schools by including epinephrine nasal spray, improving student access to life-saving care and aligning with public health goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 149: School Financial Flexibility Pilot Program.

HB 149 creates a pilot program allowing eligible North Carolina school districts (those with at least 5,000 students and tax authority) to submit a Financial and Hiring Flexibility Plan (FHFP) to the State Board of Education. The plan permits districts to use state funds more flexibly and hire up to 50% unlicensed teachers (who must complete specific training in disability education, behavior management, and safety) while meeting defined academic goals by 2030-2031, such as 100% student career planning and 90% teacher retention. The State Board reviews plans annually and can terminate them if districts fail to meet goals, violate fiscal rules, or have low-performing schools. This program aims to give districts operational flexibility to improve student outcomes, subject to state oversight and performance metrics.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables flexible use of state funds for school districts, directly addressing budgeting (subject listed) and promoting fiscal management within existing appropriations.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows flexible state fund use and mandates training for unlicensed teachers to meet academic goals, supporting district resource management and educator development.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · North Carolina · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 58: Various Local Elections.

HB 58 modifies local election rules across North Carolina. It extends Kittrell's mayor and commissioners' terms from two to four years, changes Asheboro's school board to seven partisan-elected members (down from 11) with four-year staggered terms, and eliminates a mandatory school funding floor for Scotland County. The bill also establishes residency districts for Anson County commissioners, clarifies vacancy procedures for Caswell County, and allows Scotland County to set school budgets without state-mandated funding minimums. These changes directly affect local governments and school boards in multiple counties, altering election structures and budget authority.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesEliminates mandatory school funding floor in Scotland County, reducing guaranteed state education spending and defunding essential programs.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationEliminates mandatory school funding floor for Scotland County, reducing guaranteed education budget stability and removing financial safeguards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Education