Education

died · North Carolina · House May 6, 2025

HB 306: Affordable Housing for Local Employees.

HB 306 authorizes the Towns of Blowing Rock and Boone, Watauga County, and the Watauga County Board of Education to construct and provide affordable housing for their employees, including public school teachers. These local government units can build housing on their own property, partner with other entities, or contract with businesses for development. They are permitted to rent or sell these units exclusively to their employees, offering below-market rates, financing, and placing resale restrictions. All housing constructed under this act must comply with applicable building codes and zoning ordinances.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides affordable housing for public school teachers, addressing retention needs and supporting educators directly within education-focused subjects.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly authorizes construction of affordable housing for public employees at below-market rates, directly advancing affordable housing access for a specific group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Renters

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 787: Revise NC 529 Program.

HB 787 establishes a matching program for North Carolina residents contributing to the Parental Savings Trust Fund (a 529 program) and creates a tax deduction for such contributions. It provides a 2:1 state match (up to $1,500 per student annually) for eligible contributors - North Carolina residents with household income under 250% of the federal poverty level who open accounts for children aged 14 or younger. The bill also allows a state tax deduction of up to $2,000 per individual ($4,000 for joint filers) for contributions to the fund, with rules to adjust income if funds are withdrawn for non-education purposes. These changes aim to boost college savings for lower-income families, with the matching program starting July 1, 2025, and the tax deduction effective January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax deduction and state match for lower-income 529 contributions, advancing fiscal support for education funding through tax relief and state appropriations.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax deductions and 2:1 state match for 529 savings, expanding financial aid access for lower-income families toward higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SB 195: Protect Campus Survivors Act.

SB 195, the "Protect Campus Survivors Act," exempts personally identifiable student disciplinary records at North Carolina's public colleges and universities from being disclosed as public records under state law. It defines these records as any materials containing student identifiers (like names, addresses, or social security numbers) related to disciplinary investigations, making them confidential even if federal law (FERPA) might permit disclosure. This applies to all UNC system institutions, community colleges, and their disciplinary processes. The bill takes effect upon enactment, affecting how schools handle and share such records with the public. It does not change federal privacy rules but ensures these specific records remain private under North Carolina's public records law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects student disciplinary record confidentiality in higher education, aligning with 'protect' under education support criteria.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens data privacy protections by making student disciplinary records confidential, directly aligning with Technology topic's data privacy focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 757: Joyful Soul Treasures/Funds.

HB 757 appropriates $31,000 from North Carolina's General Fund to Joyful Soul Treasures, Inc., a nonprofit organization, for its "Safe Haven for Safe Sex" project. The grant specifically supports sexual health education and awareness programs targeting adolescents aged 13-18, focusing on providing essential knowledge and reducing stigma. This funding directly enables the nonprofit to implement this youth-focused initiative. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $31k from state General Fund for youth sexual health education, directly funding a public service program under Budget & Taxes topic.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds nonprofit's sexual health education program for adolescents, directly supporting educational access and curriculum content under 'Health Education' subject.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds adolescent sexual health education program under public health initiatives, directly advancing healthcare access and reducing stigma for minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 957: Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Historically Minority-Serving Institutions Omnibus.

HB 957 creates a study committee to examine infrastructure challenges at North Carolina's HBCUs and MSIs, including building conditions, environmental risks, and maintenance needs. It establishes a $5 million Completion Assistance Program to provide up to $1,000 annually per student at six UNC HBCUs (Elizabeth City State, NC A&T, UNC Asheville, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, and Winston-Salem State) for tuition/fee balances, targeting students with Pell Grants who need financial aid to graduate on time. The bill also allocates specific infrastructure funds, including $5.1 million for Winston-Salem State's Hauser Hall renovations and $8 million for emergency steam repairs. These provisions directly affect students and campus facilities at the six designated institutions through financial aid and physical infrastructure support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates $5M program for HBCU student financial aid and infrastructure study committee, directly supporting higher education access and resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 10, 2025

HB 324: Greensboro Transit Agency/Funds.

HB 324 appropriates $800,000 from the Highway Fund to the Greensboro Transit Agency for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds are specifically allocated to $500,000 for the North/South Crossmax Orange Bus Route and $300,000 to launch a pilot program transporting high school juniors and seniors to Guilford Technical Community College campuses. This bill directly affects Greensboro Transit Agency operations and Guilford County high school students participating in the college transportation pilot. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $800k from Highway Fund for transit and education pilot programs, directly advancing budget appropriations for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $300k for high school student transportation pilot to community college, directly enhancing higher education access for secondary students.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $800k from Highway Fund to Greensboro Transit Agency for bus routes and student transportation pilot, directly funding public transportation infrastructure and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Transportation Public Transit Roads & Highways

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 4: 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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates seizure safety plans and staff training in schools, enhancing student safety and access to education for students with seizure disorders, supporting the educational environment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 256: Allow Public Employee Collective Bargaining.

HB 256 repeals North Carolina's current ban on public employee collective bargaining, allowing state and local government workers (like teachers, police, and administrative staff) to negotiate wages and working conditions with their employers. The bill removes existing legal restrictions (Article 12 of Chapter 95) and explicitly states that public employees' bargaining rights apply to all state and local government employers. It does not create new benefits or funding but aligns public sector bargaining rights with those already available to private sector employees. The bill’s key provision is the repeal of the prohibition, enabling public employees to collectively bargain under existing state law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allows teachers (public employees) to collectively bargain for wages/conditions, directly supporting educator retention and working conditions per education topic indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepeals ban on public employee collective bargaining, explicitly enabling negotiations over wages/conditions per bill text.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 17, 2025

HB 396: Nursing Fellows and Curriculum Support Funds/Winston-Salem State University.

HB 396 establishes a Nursing Fellows Program at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) to provide forgivable loans to nursing students. The program targets WSSU students pursuing Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing Education degrees who commit to working as nurses or nursing instructors in North Carolina after graduation. Eligible students receive up to $5,000 per semester (or $2,500 per summer) to cover tuition, fees, and books, with loans forgiven upon meeting service requirements. Funds are managed through a dedicated Trust Fund, with specific allocations for administrative costs, mentoring, and program activities. This directly affects WSSU nursing students planning to work in North Carolina healthcare settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides forgivable loans for nursing students at WSSU, increasing access to higher education funding through scholarships/financial aid.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds nursing education to increase workforce, improving healthcare access and provider availability in NC through forgivable loans for future nurses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 987: Create Police Leadership Fellows Program.

HB 987 creates the North Carolina Police Leadership Fellows Program, which provides forgivable loans to eligible individuals pursuing undergraduate degrees in criminal justice, government, or related fields at UNC institutions. The program targets high school graduates or seniors facing economic barriers (e.g., unemployment, underemployment) or those expressing interest in criminal justice careers, with priority given to residents who intend to work as sworn law enforcement officers, correctional staff, sheriffs, or similar roles after graduation. Recipients may receive up to $20,000 total in forgivable loans ($3,000/year for first two years, $7,000/year for final two years), covering tuition, fees, and books, subject to criminal background checks and residency requirements. The program is administered by a committee appointed by the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, with annual selections of 50-100 recipients.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded program (forgivable loans for criminal justice education) requiring budget appropriations, advancing government spending on workforce development and public safety.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds criminal justice education for future officers via forgivable loans, directly strengthening law enforcement workforce development and aligning with reform-focused training priorities.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides forgivable loans for criminal justice degrees at UNC institutions, expanding higher education access for economically disadvantaged students targeting law enforcement careers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Higher Education K-12 Education

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