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

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 726: Youth Mentoring and Academic Enhancement Commission.

HB 726 establishes the North Carolina Commission on Youth Mentoring and Academic Enhancement to create a state grant program supporting local nonprofits providing mentoring and tutoring for high school students. The commission will distribute funding from the State Education Lottery to organizations focused on reducing substance use and gang involvement while building adult connections for at-risk youth in all 100 counties. Key provisions include requiring nonprofits to offer academic tutoring in core subjects and enrichment activities, with grants prioritizing programs where at least 60% of staff are under 30 and from the local community. The commission must report annually on grant recipients, funds distributed, and academic outcomes for participants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes grant program using education lottery funds for academic tutoring/mentoring of at-risk high school students, directly enhancing educational support through state funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 790: Prohibit Vape/Tobacco Shops Near Schools.

HB 790 prohibits the sale of tobacco, vape, and alternative nicotine products within 1,000 feet of any public or nonpublic school building. It directly affects vape and tobacco shops located near schools, banning sales in those zones while excluding home schools and colleges. The law includes an exception for incidental sales tied to a business's primary operations but classifies violations as Class 2 misdemeanors. The bill takes effect December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses occurring on or after that date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits tobacco/vape sales near schools to protect student health and safety, aligning with educational access and school environment policies.85% confidence

Track

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SB 323: Student Health and Responsibility Act.

SB 323 establishes a $9.6 million annual grant program (2025-2027) to provide free condoms and lubricants to students in North Carolina public high schools, community colleges, and UNC system institutions. It directly affects these educational settings by requiring grant recipients to offer supplies in designated campus locations without parental permission, while prioritizing student privacy and collaboration with health organizations. Key mechanisms include mandatory Student Health Advisory Committees, annual reporting on usage and health savings, and rules ensuring grants supplement rather than replace existing funding. The program aims to reduce STI-related healthcare costs and support student retention through preventive health access.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $9.6M grant for student health supplies in NC schools/colleges, directly supporting student wellness within educational settings through funding and access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $9.6M annually for free condoms/lubricants in schools to improve student public health access and prevent STIs/unintended pregnancies, directly advancing preventive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Health

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 588: School Psychologist Omnibus.

HB 588 aims to improve the number and quality of school psychologists in North Carolina through multiple funding initiatives. It provides a $650 monthly salary boost and a 12% supplement for certified school psychologists (totaling $8.1 million), establishes a $5 million grant program to fund signing bonuses (up to $5,000) for recruiting new psychologists with a one-year commitment requirement, and creates a $5 million internship program offering stipends at starting salaries. Additionally, it allocates $5 million for a virtual training program at Appalachian State University and $1.6 million to expand school psychology programs at five UNC institutions to double graduate output. The bill also includes an interstate licensure compact to facilitate practice across state lines, with all programs requiring annual reporting to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $8.1M for salary boosts and $10M total for recruitment/internships targeting school psychologists, directly funding mental health support in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Health

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

Sub-Topics School Funding Tags Elections

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 416: Boys and Girls Clubs/Funds.

HB 416 appropriates $30,000 from the state General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties. The funds will support a six-part youth development program focusing on teen recruitment, emotional safety, leadership, trauma-informed practices, cultural inclusion, and college/career readiness for area youth. This bill directly affects the Boys & Girls Clubs in those counties and the young people they serve, becoming effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $30k from General Fund for youth program, directly funding a public service under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $30k for youth development program including college/career readiness, directly funding educational access and youth development programs for area youth.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 578: North Carolina CARDINAL Corps Act.

SB 578 establishes the North Carolina CARDINAL Corps Program to place recent high school graduates (within two years of graduation or GED) and veterans (within two years of military deployment) into paid fellowships in critical sectors like disaster relief, education, public safety, farming, and military family support. Organizations such as schools, local governments, and nonprofits can host fellows, receiving reimbursement of up to $30,200 per fellow annually for salary, training, and program costs, with a 1:1 matching fund requirement from the host. Fellows serve nine-month terms with a $5,000 completion award, and the program requires annual reports on fund usage and participant outcomes. The bill appropriates $1.485 million for implementation starting July 1, 2025, aiming to grow to 1,000 annual participants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds education sector placements via reimbursement for schools hosting fellows in educational roles, directly supporting school programs through paid fellowships.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates paid fellowships for youth/veterans in critical sectors, funding employment opportunities through reimbursement for host organizations.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly targets veterans (within 2 years of deployment) for paid fellowships with annual funding reimbursement, directly supporting veteran employment through critical sector placements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Military Families

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 534: Sexual Assault Nurse Programs/Funds.

HB 534 appropriates $700,000 from North Carolina's General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to establish sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training programs at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Wake Technical Community College. Each college receives $350,000 to hire a full-time faculty member ($105,000), a clinical coordinator ($105,000), purchase equipment/supplies ($45,000), and cover program development and accreditation costs ($95,000). The bill directly affects these two community colleges and future healthcare professionals seeking SANE certification. It creates a concrete funding mechanism to expand training capacity for nurses specializing in sexual assault victim care.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $700,000 from General Fund for SANE training programs, directly funding public health services through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds SANE training to improve evidence collection in sexual assault cases, directly enhancing criminal justice system effectiveness for sex offenses.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $700,000 to fund SANE training programs at community colleges, directly supporting higher education initiatives and professional education within the specified topic area.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $700k for SANE training programs at community colleges, directly funding healthcare services for sexual assault victims through specialized nurse examiner programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Violent Crime Higher Education Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 419: School of the Arts Building Purchase.

HB 419 appropriates $4.5 million from the state General Fund to purchase a building and improvements adjacent to Winston-Salem's Stevens Center (411 W. 4th Street) for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The funds, designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, directly support the School of the Arts' facility expansion needs. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and modifies standard budgeting procedures to enable this one-time purchase. This is a direct funding allocation with no broader policy changes beyond the specified property acquisition.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $4.5M from General Fund for UNC School of the Arts facility expansion, directly funding a public education program through state budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $4.5M for UNC School of the Arts facility expansion, directly funding higher education infrastructure and supporting arts education programming.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

Track