Education (Higher Education)

died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 585: Local Govts/Mental Health/ CC Tuition Waiver.

SB 585 creates a tuition and registration fee waiver for mental health clinicians and peer support specialists working in municipal or county emergency medical services (EMS), rescue, or lifesaving departments. It specifically applies to professionals embedded in 911 call centers to direct mental health resources or paired with first responders during emergency calls. The bill amends North Carolina's community college tuition waiver rules to add these departments as eligible entities, allowing their employees to take approved community college courses without tuition costs. This policy directly affects local government emergency response teams and their mental health staff, effective July 1, 2025. The waiver covers standard tuition and registration fees for relevant training programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates tuition waiver for mental health professionals at community colleges, directly advancing higher education access for a specific workforce.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates tuition waiver for mental health clinicians in EMS, expanding access to mental health services by supporting workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Mental Health

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 259: School Psychologist Omnibus.

SB 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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $8.1M for salary increases and $10M for recruitment/internships to boost school psychologist staffing, directly supporting mental health services and educational access in K-12 schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Health

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 145: Diabetes Research Institute/UNC-Chapel Hill/Funds.

HB 145 appropriates $50 million in one-time state funds to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) for the development of a diabetes research institute. This bill directly affects UNC-CH as the recipient of the funds and will support diabetes research activities at the university. The funds are designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and become effective July 1, 2025. The legislation is a straightforward funding allocation with no policy changes beyond the specified financial commitment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $50M state funds for university research institute, directly increasing public spending on education/health through budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds UNC-CH research institute under higher education subjects, directly supporting university research infrastructure as part of higher education funding.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $50M for UNC-CH diabetes research institute, directly funding disease-specific health research under public health and disease subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 422: Beyond The Choice Act.

HB 422, the "Beyond The Choice Act," eliminates a 12-month residency wait period for eligible veterans and their dependents at North Carolina public colleges and universities. It allows veterans who served 90+ days of active duty, their dependents, or other individuals covered under federal law (38 U.S.C. § 3679) to pay in-state tuition rates immediately upon admission, without needing to establish residency first. This change applies to all qualifying students enrolling in the 2025-2026 academic year and beyond. The bill directly benefits veterans and their families by reducing financial barriers to higher education in North Carolina.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEliminates residency barrier for veterans, enabling immediate in-state tuition access at public colleges, expanding higher education affordability and access.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEliminates residency wait for veterans' in-state tuition, enabling immediate access to lower education costs - directly expanding veteran benefits per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 367: Capital Project Funding at HBCUs.

SB 367 allocates $8 million from the Education Lottery Fund to four North Carolina Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) - Bennett College, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, and Shaw University - for campus capital improvement projects like building repairs or new facilities. Funding is distributed proportionally based on each HBCU’s number of North Carolina resident undergraduate students receiving federal Pell Grants. The bill, effective July 1, 2025, provides nonrecurring funds specifically for physical campus upgrades at these institutions. It directly affects the listed HBCUs and their enrolled students who qualify for Pell Grants.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $8M from existing Education Lottery Fund to HBCUs for capital projects, advancing budgeted appropriations for public higher education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $8M from Education Lottery Fund to HBCUs for campus capital projects, directly funding higher education infrastructure improvements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 440: 2025 Governor's Budget.

SB 440, the "Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2025," allocates base budget funding for North Carolina's state departments, agencies, and universities for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. It specifies exact funding amounts for all state operations, including $12.94 billion for public instruction, $8.83 billion for health and human services, and $4.24 billion for the University of North Carolina system. The bill directs all state entities to spend within these allocated amounts, with unused funds reverting to the appropriate fund at year-end. As a routine budget measure, it does not create new policies or affect specific groups beyond funding existing state services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates specific funding amounts for public instruction ($12.94B), health services ($8.83B), and UNC system ($4.24B), directing state entities to spend within these budgets for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $12.94B for public instruction (K-12) funding, directly advancing education budget without restrictions or cuts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 490: Propel NC Funding and Tuition Surcharge.

HB 490 revises North Carolina's community college funding model to prioritize enrollment in workforce-focused programs. It requires the State Board of Community Colleges to allocate base funding plus additional funds based on full-time student enrollment in curriculum, workforce training, and Basic Skills courses, with weighted funding for high-demand fields. The bill also creates an "Enrollment Increase Reserve" to fund colleges with enrollment growth exceeding 5% in targeted programs and permits community colleges to add up to a 10% tuition surcharge for eligible courses, with funds restricted to instructional costs. These changes directly affect community colleges and students in workforce education, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill revises community college funding model to prioritize workforce programs with weighted funding and creates Enrollment Increase Reserve, directly advancing budget allocation for education through targeted fiscal management.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRevises community college funding to prioritize workforce programs with weighted funding for high-demand fields and creates enrollment growth reserves, directly advancing higher education funding and access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce training programs prioritizing high-demand fields and enrollment growth, directly enhancing job readiness and employment opportunities per labor & employment policy focus.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Career & Technical Education Curriculum Higher Education Workforce Development

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 667: Reduce Barriers to College Completion.

HB 667 would allow certain children of H-1B or L-1 visa holders to pay in-state tuition at North Carolina public universities. Specifically, it applies to students whose parents are lawfully present in the U.S. (not citizens) with valid H-1B/L-1 visas, and who either hold an H-4 visa or were previously classified as in-state residents for tuition while continuously enrolled in college. The bill amends tuition law to permit this status for students meeting these criteria, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year. This policy directly affects immigrant students who would otherwise pay higher out-of-state rates, aiming to support North Carolina's goal of increasing postsecondary degree attainment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by allowing eligible immigrant students to pay in-state tuition, directly reducing financial barriers to college completion.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationAllows children of H-1B/L-1 visa holders to pay in-state tuition, expanding educational access for immigrant families under immigration status criteria.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education DACA & Dreamers

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 883: Support Students with Disabilities Act.

HB 883 establishes a grant program for North Carolina school districts to cover extraordinary costs for students with disabilities, particularly for placements outside regular schools (like private special education programs or homebound settings). School districts can apply for 75% reimbursement of eligible costs - such as specialized staff salaries, materials, or private school tuition - provided these costs exceed four times the state average per-pupil expenditure for disabilities. The bill requires annual IEP reviews, mandates that districts maintain legal responsibility for students in private placements, and directs the Department of Public Instruction to report on placements and costs by March 2026. It appropriates $1 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund this program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state grant program funding 75% reimbursement for disability education costs, directly increasing public education spending per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes 75% grant reimbursement for disability-related costs exceeding state average, directly funding special education access and support per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending Higher Education Special Education

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 670: Workforce Credential Grant Program/Career and College Pathways.

House Bill 670 establishes the Career and College Pathways Innovation Challenge Grant Program, providing competitive grants to North Carolina community colleges. These grants support local and regional partnerships that aim to increase postsecondary enrollment and completion for students and adults, align educational offerings with workforce needs, and reduce educational opportunity gaps. The State Board of Community Colleges administers the program, awarding funds for initiatives like work-based learning and financial support beyond tuition. For the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years, $2 million is specifically allocated to community colleges in counties affected by Hurricane Helene. The bill appropriates $5 million in recurring funds for the program, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded grants for community colleges, directly allocating appropriations to advance educational programs and workforce development through budgeting mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes competitive grants for community colleges to increase postsecondary enrollment, align education with workforce needs, and reduce opportunity gaps through direct funding of higher education initiatives.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds community college partnerships to align education with workforce needs, enhancing job readiness and career pathways for workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Workforce Development

Track