Education

signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 3, 2025

SB 125: Various Education Changes.

SB 125 reorganizes North Carolina's community college statutes and makes specific changes to education policy. It prohibits community colleges from using a secondary school's accreditation status (like certification) as a factor in admissions, financial aid, or scholarships for students. The bill also requires community colleges to report annually on college transfer program performance, including student success rates at four-year institutions, and mandates detailed reporting on the 2+2 E-Learning Initiative for teacher training. These provisions directly affect community college students, institutions, and educators seeking teacher licensure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits using secondary school accreditation in admissions/financial aid (expanding access) and mandates transfer program reporting (enhancing outcomes), directly advancing higher education access and accountability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · North Carolina · House Jul 2, 2025

HB 928: Allow Physical Therapists in School Concussion Protocol.

HB 928 allows physical therapists licensed in North Carolina to evaluate student athletes for concussions and provide written clearance for returning to play or practice after a head injury during school sports. It directly affects student athletes in North Carolina public schools who exhibit concussion symptoms during athletic activities. The bill amends existing law to specifically include licensed physical therapists as authorized professionals (alongside doctors and other specialists) who can assess head injuries and issue the required written clearance. This change expands the pool of qualified healthcare providers available for school concussion protocols without altering the core requirement that athletes must be cleared before returning to sports.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands school safety protocols for student athletes by allowing physical therapists to evaluate concussions, directly protecting student health in educational settings.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 77: School Contracted Health Services.

SB 77 allows parents of students with disabilities to choose their preferred nurse for school-based nursing services required by an Individualized Education Program (IEP), provided specific conditions are met. The bill requires schools to assign the parent's chosen nurse if that nurse previously provided care to the student, the nursing agency agrees to contract under standard terms, and the rate matches other contracted nurses. This directly affects families of students needing nursing services under IEPs and ensures schools honor parent preferences without altering their obligation to provide a free appropriate public education. The policy applies starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables parent choice in nursing services for IEP students, enhancing educational access and support for children with disabilities within school health services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables parent choice in school nursing services for IEP students, improving access to continuity of care and patient-centered healthcare access within education settings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · North Carolina · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 959: Various Education Changes.

HB 959 requires North Carolina public schools to adopt internet safety policies by January 2026, limiting student access to age-appropriate content and blocking social media except for teacher-directed educational use. It mandates annual social media literacy instruction in all grades, covering mental health impacts, misinformation, online safety, and identifying cyberbullying. The bill also establishes rules for wireless device use during class, prohibiting personal device use except for educational purposes, medical needs, or special education plans. These provisions directly affect all K-12 public schools and students across North Carolina, with policies to be implemented starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates social media literacy education, safety policies, and device use rules to enhance student digital safety and curriculum, aligning with educational strengthening indicators.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student social media access during class and mandates safety policies, limiting technology use in schools per bill's content.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 27, 2025

HB 1012: Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part II.

HB 1012 redirects over $64 million in existing state funds to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene and wildfires in Western North Carolina. It transfers $25 million from the Environmental Quality budget for water infrastructure repairs, $12.5 million for school closures, $5 million for university facility repairs, and $2.25 million for election operations in impacted areas. The bill applies to counties designated under federal disaster declarations for Hurricane Helene (per Section 1.4) and addresses wildfire recovery efforts hampered by the storm (per Section 1.5). These funds are drawn from unspent allocations in existing state programs, not new taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects $64M in existing state funds for disaster recovery, including infrastructure and education repairs, demonstrating fiscal management to fund essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $12.5M for school closures (K-12) and $5M for university facility repairs, directly funding educational infrastructure recovery in disaster-impacted areas.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 26, 2025

HB 373: UNC Tuition Discounts for Certain Students.

HB 373 allows University of North Carolina (UNC) institutions to offer tuition discounts to two specific groups: military students receiving federal or North Carolina National Guard tuition assistance, and students enrolled in employer-sponsored financial support programs approved by UNC. The discount covers the difference between the military/employer funding and full tuition, without creating new free tuition programs. UNC must report annually to the legislature on the number of students receiving these discounts and their financial impact on institutions. The policy takes effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition discounts for military and employer-supported students, expanding access to higher education without new free tuition programs.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides tuition discounts for military students, including veterans receiving military tuition assistance, directly advancing veterans' educational benefits without creating new free programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · North Carolina · Senate Jun 5, 2025

SB 223: Expand Academic Trans. Pathways/Sophomore HS.

SB 223 expands academic transition pathways for high school students by creating new opportunities for qualified freshmen and sophomores to take college courses at community colleges. The bill requires specific approvals - such as verification of academic readiness by school and college leaders, mandatory academic advising, and parental consent - to allow these younger students to earn career technical education certificates or diplomas in fields like engineering, agriculture, or construction. It also modifies existing pathways for older students and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The policy directly affects high school students seeking early college credit in designated career fields, with participation contingent on meeting strict eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands early college access for high school students via community college partnerships, creating new educational pathways and opportunities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

passed · North Carolina · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 493: Land Use Clarification and Changes.

SB 493 proposes several changes to land use regulations in North Carolina. The bill allows public schools to be located in areas zoned for commercial use, either by right or through a special use permit. It also eliminates the authority for cities to exercise planning and development regulation outside their corporate limits, known as extraterritorial jurisdiction. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that establishing one type of vested right on a property does not eliminate other existing use rights, and it sets limits on conditions local governments can impose for special use permits.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows schools in commercial zones, improving infrastructure access; directly addresses school building locations per bill summary.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

passed · North Carolina · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 507: Auto Enrollment in Advanced ELA Courses.

SB 507 requires North Carolina public schools to automatically enroll students who score at the highest level on standardized math or English Language Arts (ELA) tests in advanced courses for the next grade level. This applies to students in grades 3-5 for math and grades 6+ for both subjects, with parents able to opt out via written consent after being informed of the placement basis. The bill expands an existing policy (previously only for math) to include ELA courses and mandates annual demographic reporting to the legislature on enrollment patterns. It takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuto-enrolls high-performing students in advanced ELA courses, expanding access to rigorous curriculum for grades 3-5 (math) and 6+ (ELA), aligning with educational access and curriculum enhancement indicators.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

signed · North Carolina · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 58: Various Local Elections.

HB 58 modifies local election rules across North Carolina. It extends Kittrell's mayor and commissioners' terms from two to four years, changes Asheboro's school board to seven partisan-elected members (down from 11) with four-year staggered terms, and eliminates a mandatory school funding floor for Scotland County. The bill also establishes residency districts for Anson County commissioners, clarifies vacancy procedures for Caswell County, and allows Scotland County to set school budgets without state-mandated funding minimums. These changes directly affect local governments and school boards in multiple counties, altering election structures and budget authority.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesEliminates mandatory school funding floor in Scotland County, reducing guaranteed state education spending and defunding essential programs.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationEliminates mandatory school funding floor for Scotland County, reducing guaranteed education budget stability and removing financial safeguards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education