HB 316 reenacts North Carolina's Child Tax Credit to help families cover child care costs, with reimbursement percentages based on income and child age (e.g., 7-13% for dependents aged 6-12). It allocates $200 million annually to expand the NC Pre-K program, adding 32,000 slots for 4-year-olds, and $35 million to increase subsidized child care funding. The bill also requires public schools to provide free lunches at no cost to students through state funding tied to school nutrition evaluations. Additionally, it mandates a report on creating a high school child care apprenticeship program. The bill directly affects families with children, public schools, and child care providers across North Carolina.
HB 692 requires all North Carolina public schools to install at least two automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) per school building - one in a state-identified location and one in athletic facilities - and provide annual training for school staff in AED use and CPR. The bill directly affects public school personnel, students, and school districts by mandating specific installation, maintenance, and training protocols through new rules from the State Board of Education. Key provisions include requiring schools to coordinate with emergency medical systems, maintain AEDs properly, and develop policies aligned with state guidelines. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year, using existing school funding for implementation.
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.
SB 89 requires all public schools and certain nonpublic schools in North Carolina to install automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and provide training to staff on their use and on CPR. The State Board of Education will adopt rules for public schools, which include placing at least two AEDs per school, with one in an athletic facility, and implementing staff training. Local school boards, charter schools, and other public school entities must then develop policies in line with these state rules. The bill appropriates $4,000 per school to assist with the purchase and installation of AEDs and staff training.
House Bill 433 allows licensed registered nurses (RNs) to serve as school nurses in North Carolina public schools. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring a four-year degree for school nurse employment. It specifies that RNs with at least two years of experience in a hospital or health clinic can work as school nurses without needing additional certifications or licenses. These qualified registered nurses will be paid under the certified school nurse pay scale.
HB 578, the Jason Flatt Act, requires all North Carolina public K-12 schools to implement suicide prevention education and training for school staff. It mandates that licensed educators complete at least one hour of annual suicide prevention training, while staff working with grades 6-12 must receive guidelines for identifying at-risk students and procedures for referrals. Schools must adopt a mental health plan including these elements, with initial staff training of six hours (within six months of hire) and two hours annually thereafter. The law applies to all public schools, charter schools, regional schools, and lab schools starting the 2025-2026 school year.
HB 710 establishes a three-year pilot program to fund mental health crisis units in North Carolina public schools. It allocates $2 million total (up to $250,000 annually per district) to select up to eight school districts starting in 2025-2026, prioritizing those with high student mental health needs or trauma history. Each participating district must staff units with at least a school nurse, social worker, and licensed counselor to provide crisis intervention during school hours and rotate across schools. The program requires annual reports on participating districts and student mental health impacts, ending June 30, 2028.
This bill allows students attending public, private, or homeschools without a specific sport or extracurricular program to participate at the nearest public high school offering that activity. It requires public schools to permit such participation under the same terms as enrolled students, with schools able to charge a reasonable, board-approved fee for non-enrolled students. The law mandates that school districts publish all approved participation fees online by October 15 each year. It applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
SB 112 creates a pilot program allowing eligible North Carolina school districts (with at least 5,000 students and tax authority) to submit a Financial and Hiring Flexibility Plan (FHFP) starting in 2026-2027. The plan requires districts to set specific academic goals by 2030-2031, such as 100% student career planning by senior year and 90% teacher retention, while permitting up to 50% unlicensed teachers in core subjects after completing required training on disability education and behavior management. Districts operating under the FHFP receive unrestricted state funding for school operations but face annual reviews by the State Board, with potential termination if goals aren't met or fiscal standards violated. The program is limited to participating districts and ends after the 2030-2031 school year unless renewed.
HB 326 requires North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to study ways to increase teacher planning time or reduce workloads that cut into it. The DPI must report to lawmakers by February 15, 2026, with specific recommendations, cost estimates, and other relevant findings. The bill allocates $5,000 in one-time funding for the study, which can include partnering with outside experts. This is a procedural study bill with no immediate policy changes; it aims to inform future decisions about teacher workloads in public schools.
