SB 981 North Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Session

AI in Ed Task Force and Standards.

This North Carolina bill creates a temporary Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force to study how AI tools are used in schools and to develop rules for their regulation. The task force will include representatives from the state government, universities, and private businesses, and it must submit its findings by March 2028. Separately, the legislation requires the State Board of Education to create standards for teaching AI concepts to students from kindergarten through grade 12, covering topics like how AI works, ethical use, and critical thinking. To support these efforts, the bill appropriates $250,000 to provide professional development for teachers and administrators.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Apr 30, 2026 Last action May 5, 2026

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What changed between versions

Filed → Edition 1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was transitioned from a preliminary filed draft to its official first edition, adding a formal title and specific committee referral. Crucially, the bill now includes new sections establishing a $250,000 funding appropriation for an AI in Education Task Force and setting a July 1, 2026, effective date for that funding.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific funding authorization and an effective date, whereas the previous version lacked these operational details.

FISCAL

Added Section 2(b) appropriating $250,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to implement the bill's provisions.

TIMELINE

Added Section 3 establishing that the funding provision becomes effective on July 1, 2026, while the rest of the act becomes effective upon passage.

TECHNICAL

Added a formal bill title ('AI in Ed Task Force and Standards') and referred the bill to the Rules and Operations of the Senate committee, replacing the previous draft status and bill number.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 5, 2026

Committee

Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget

upper

May 4, 2026

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Introduced

Filed

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors