Education

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 636: School Psychologist Omnibus.

SB 636, the School Psychologist Omnibus, increases compensation for North Carolina school psychologists and creates programs to boost recruitment and training. It provides a $650 monthly salary supplement for all school psychologists, plus a 12% supplement for those with a nationally certified credential, funded by $8.1 million. The bill also allocates $1.7 million for grants to school districts offering up to $5,000 signing bonuses to recruit psychologists, $5 million for internship stipends, and $5 million for a virtual training program at Appalachian State University, plus $1.6 million to expand university training programs at five UNC schools. These changes, effective July 2025, directly affect school psychologists, public school districts, and university training programs to address staffing shortages.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases compensation for school psychologists via $650 monthly supplements, recruitment grants, and internship stipends totaling $14.8M, directly funding educational staff and mental health services in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Health

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 937: Keeping Our Coaches Act.

HB 937 allocates $11 million annually from North Carolina's sports betting tax revenue to provide salary supplements for public school athletic coaches. It requires eligible public school units to ensure each full-time coach receives a combined total of at least $3,000 per year in state and local funds, with schools maintaining prior non-state funding levels for coaches. Schools that replace state funds with local money forfeit future state allocations, and unspent funds flow to the North Carolina YMCA Alliance for youth sports programs. The bill applies to all public school athletic coaches meeting specific eligibility criteria and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $11M annually from sports betting tax revenue to fund coach salary supplements, increasing public school funding via existing tax revenue.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $11M annually from sports betting revenue for coach salary supplements, ensuring minimum state/local funding for school staff under education category.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 27, 2025

HB 209: Employee Housing/Durham County.

HB 209 authorizes Durham Public Schools and Durham County to create affordable rental housing for teachers, police officers, first responders, and other Durham County employees. The bill allows these entities to partner using their existing land to build housing, with at least 75% of units reserved specifically for Durham Public Schools teachers. Rent will be set at reasonable, below-market rates, and all housing must comply with standard building and safety codes. The bill is currently pending in committee and does not change existing zoning or safety regulations for the housing units.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes affordable housing specifically for Durham Public Schools teachers, addressing retention and recruitment needs within education system.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates affordable housing for teachers/first responders with 75% units reserved and below-market rents, directly advancing housing access for public employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides affordable housing for essential workers (teachers, first responders), directly addressing housing costs as a key employment benefit and retention factor for public sector employees.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters Zoning

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 800: Review Effectiveness and Delivery of Child Care.

HB 800 directs North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services to study the effectiveness of state child care programs like NC Pre-K and Smart Start, including funding allocation and quality rating systems, with findings due by April 2026. It also allocates $10 million for a pilot program that automatically enrolls preschool-age children (8 weeks-5 years) of full-time licensed child care teachers in state subsidy programs, provided teachers commit to completing early childhood education coursework within 18 months. The pilot targets counties with the highest historical child care capacity loss, requires centers to accept standard subsidy rates without extra fees, and mandates quarterly participation reports starting in 2026. This directly affects licensed child care teachers and their preschool children, aiming to improve child care access and workforce retention.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $10M for preschool enrollment pilot and studies early childhood education programs, directly funding and strengthening access to early education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 885: Revise Suspension and Parental Notice Policies.

HB 885 revises North Carolina public school discipline policies to limit suspensions, prohibit corporal punishment, and improve parental notification. It defines suspension lengths (short-term up to 20 days, long-term over 43 days), bans corporal punishment entirely, and requires schools to make documented, multi-channel attempts to contact parents within one hour of disciplinary actions. The bill mandates schools to collect and publicly report demographic data (race, gender, disability status, etc.) on all suspensions, expulsions, and disciplinary actions. These changes directly affect all public school students in North Carolina, with specific restrictions on suspending kindergarten through third graders and requiring in-school suspension to not exceed 40 cumulative days per year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBans corporal punishment, limits suspensions, mandates parental notification and demographic reporting - improves student discipline policies to protect student welfare and equity in education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 473: Capital for Communities Act.

SB 473 creates the Capital for Communities Special Fund, a dedicated state fund that will receive 3.5% of certain investment earnings (when quarterly returns exceed 7%) from state funds managed by the Treasurer. The fund will provide grants for economic development projects in North Carolina, specifically targeting affordable housing, childcare centers, healthcare facilities addressing shortages, medical research, workforce development, living-wage jobs, and nonprofit education facilities. These grants must directly support community-based initiatives meeting the specified criteria. The bill establishes clear eligibility rules for fund usage but does not detail application processes or allocation priorities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fund from state investment earnings (3.5%) to fund affordable housing, healthcare, and workforce programs, increasing state funding allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates grants specifically for 'nonprofit education facilities' through a dedicated fund, directly funding educational infrastructure and programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill specifically targets healthcare facilities addressing shortages and medical research for grants from the dedicated fund, directly advancing healthcare infrastructure and services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingSB 473 creates a dedicated fund specifically targeting affordable housing projects through state grants, directly advancing housing affordability as a primary focus.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly funds workforce development and living-wage jobs, advancing employment standards per bill summary and subjects list.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Affordable Housing Community Development Property Development Workforce Development Tags Economic Development

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 930: First Responder Bonus/Appreciation Fund/$1500.

HB 930 creates two separate $1,500 one-time bonus programs for eligible public employees in North Carolina: first responders (including police, firefighters, emergency medical staff, dispatchers, and public hospital nurses) and teachers (classroom staff, principals, and support personnel). The bill allocates $130 million annually for first responders and $165 million for teachers from the General Fund during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, with funds distributed to local governments and school districts by November 1 each year. To qualify, recipients must be employed on October 1 of the fiscal year, and bonuses must be paid by December 31 (prorated for part-time workers). Funds cannot cover administrative costs, must be paid in addition to base salary, and will revert to the General Fund if unspent by year-end. The program takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $295M annually from General Fund for first responder/teacher bonuses, increasing public sector compensation funding under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $165M for teacher bonuses (classroom staff, principals), directly funding educator compensation and retention under Education/Teachers subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 241: Person County Projects/Funds.

HB 241 allocates $15.8 million in one-time state funds for specific projects in Person County and nearby areas. It provides $10 million for Roxboro’s wastewater plant repairs, $800,000 for Person County’s splash pad construction, and $5 million for Piedmont Community College’s health/trades center equipment. The funds are directed to these specific entities via grants from the Office of State Budget and Management for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, with no policy changes beyond the funding allocations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $15.8M in state funds for infrastructure (wastewater, parks) and education (college equipment), advancing budget appropriations for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $5M for Piedmont Community College's health/trades center equipment, directly funding higher education infrastructure per bill subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 1004: UNC Artificial Intelligence and Technology Hubs.

HB 1004 proposes to allocate $16 million (one-time) and $8 million annually to establish up to eight Artificial Intelligence Hubs at UNC campuses, including at least one HBCU or UNC Pembroke, requiring institutions to match 10% with non-state funds. It also appropriates $70 million for Technology Hubs at all UNC campuses to drive innovation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship, plus $30 million for research grants focused on AI applications in education, healthcare, ethics, and infrastructure. The bill directly affects UNC system campuses, researchers, and students through funding for hubs, infrastructure, and project grants. It requires reporting on hub activities and becomes effective July 1, 2025, pending legislative approval.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $16M one-time, $8M annual, and $100M total for AI/tech hubs and education-focused research grants, strengthening higher education innovation and workforce development.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllocates $16M one-time, $8M annual for AI hubs, $70M for tech hubs, $30M for AI research grants to drive innovation and workforce development in technology.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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signed · North Carolina · House Aug 11, 2026

HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.

HB 268 authorizes the University of North Carolina system to finance specific capital projects at UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Wilmington using alternative funding sources like gifts, grants, and revenue bonds - instead of state general funds. It specifically covers major projects including Chapel Hill's electrical system upgrade and Fetzer Hall addition, plus Wilmington's parking deck and student housing. The bill allows the university board to issue special obligation bonds up to 5% over the project costs to cover expenses, with potential adjustments approved by the state budget director. This directly affects the two universities by enabling them to fund these infrastructure improvements through non-state appropriations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows UNC system to use alternative funding for campus infrastructure projects (e.g., electrical upgrades, housing), directly supporting higher education facility improvements without diverting state general funds.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education