HB 671 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Pilot.

HB 671 establishes a four-year pilot program (2025-2026 through 2028-2029) that provides grants to North Carolina public high schools (grades 9-12) to form or support competitive speech and debate teams. Schools can receive up to $10,000 per team annually, covering coach stipends (capped at $2,500 for lead coaches and $1,500 for assistants) and competition expenses like travel and league fees. Participating schools must join the Tarheel Forensic League and National Speech and Debate Association, and the program allows students from schools without teams to join the nearest team (with students covering their own transportation). Funded by $500,000 yearly from the General Fund, the Department of Public Instruction will administer the program and report annually on grant usage and student academic outcomes.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Apr 1, 2025 Last action Apr 15, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify student eligibility for speech and debate teams by allowing students to join teams at geographically closest schools that offer programs, even if their home school does not. The amendment also reorganized the bill's structure by removing the original title page and sponsor information while retaining the core legislative text. These changes streamline the document for committee review while maintaining the pilot program's funding and reporting requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include students from schools without speech and debate programs who can now participate at nearby schools with teams, increasing access to the pilot program.

ELIGIBILITY

Added provision allowing students to join speech and debate teams at geographically closest schools that offer programs, even if their home school does not have a team.

TECHNICAL

Removed original title page information including primary sponsors list and committee referral details, likely for committee substitute formatting.

Reorganized bill structure by removing duplicate text and consolidating sections, with line numbers adjusted to reflect committee substitute version.

REQUIREMENT

Added student responsibility clause requiring students joining teams under this authority to be responsible for transportation to and from the team meeting school.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 15, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Appropriations

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 13 co-sponsors