HB 4 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

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.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Last action May 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 2 → Edition 3 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was substantially rewritten to broaden its scope from seizure-specific training to comprehensive medical emergency preparedness for all students with diagnosed medical conditions. The new version replaces seizure-focused requirements with broader medical condition action plans and medical emergency plans that apply to any student at risk of a medical emergency, not just those with seizure disorders.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded significantly from seizure-specific provisions to cover all medical emergencies. Applicability now includes any student diagnosed with a medical condition by a doctor, rather than being limited to students with seizure disorders.

SCOPE

Changed from seizure-specific training requirements to broader medical condition action plans applicable to any student at risk of a medical emergency as diagnosed by a doctor.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for Medical Emergency Plans to cover situations not addressed by medical condition action plans, including off-campus activities like field trips and athletic events.

Replaced seizure-specific training requirements with general medical care training for designated staff members, removing the specific requirement for Epilepsy Foundation training guidelines.

Removed seizure-specific poster requirements and self-study hour requirements for principals, counselors, and teachers.

Added liability protection for employees acting under medical condition action plans or medical emergency plans, shielding them from civil damages except in cases of gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing.

DEFINITION

Changed statutory section references from G.S. 115C-375.7 (seizure preparedness) to G.S. 115C-375.1 (medical care provision) and added new subdivisions to G.S. 115C-12.

Floor votes · House May 7, 2025

How they voted

113–0

Passed · 8 other

Total votes 121

May 7, 2025

D Democratic46

41 Yea 5

89% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican73

70 Yea 3

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 7, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed 3rd Reading

lower

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav

lower

May 6, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Appropriations

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Sub 2

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Health

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Serial Referral To Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Added

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Serial Referral To Appropriations Added

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Serial Referral To Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Stricken

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Re-ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Health, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 23 co-sponsors