SB 114 appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain Foundation. This funding specifically supports operational expenses and program expansion for the Boys & Girls Clubs located in Pitt County only. The bill directs all funds to these local clubs, with no restrictions on how the money is spent beyond the stated purpose. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.
SB 575 makes failing to yield to a pedestrian when causing serious injury a Class 2 misdemeanor for drivers. It requires North Carolina's driver education programs to add a new pedestrian safety module covering when drivers must yield the right-of-way. The bill also mandates the Division of Motor Vehicles and Department of Public Instruction to study and report by January 1, 2026, on improving pedestrian safety instruction in driver education. These changes directly affect drivers, public school driver education curricula, and state agencies responsible for traffic safety training.
HB 805 requires North Carolina state agencies and local governments to use biological sex definitions (based on reproductive anatomy at birth) in all policies, replacing gender identity as a legal equivalent. It directly affects state programs, including healthcare, education, and civil rights enforcement, by mandating that "female," "male," and related terms refer solely to biological sex as defined in the bill. The bill also creates a new "Prevent Sexual Exploitation of Women and Minors Act" with definitions for consent and intimate visual depictions, while including provisions on birth certificates, school accommodations for religious objections, and parental access to library materials. These changes take effect January 1, 2026, and are intended to align state law with federal directives referenced in the bill's preamble.
HB 911 requires North Carolina local school boards to create and publicly share experience-based salary schedules for full-time occupational and physical therapists employed in public schools, ensuring these pay scales align with existing noncertified education salary ranges. For the 2025-2026 school year, therapists must receive at least the higher of their current salary or the new schedule amount, plus a monthly supplement equal to 10% of a teacher's salary for five additional years plus $350. School boards must also submit annual workforce reports detailing therapist staffing levels, contractor use, and vacancies to the state education department. The bill directly affects school-employed therapists and local school boards, with supplements contingent on legislative funding.
SB 265, the "Protecting Our Community Act," regulates hemp-derived consumable products (like edibles or vapes with ≤0.3% delta-9 THC) and bans them on school grounds. It requires businesses to verify buyers' ages (no sales to under 21), mandates independent lab testing for THC levels, and defines terms like "distributor" and "final form product." The law directly affects hemp product manufacturers, sellers (including online retailers), and schools, which must prohibit these items on campus. Key provisions include mandatory child-resistant packaging at point-of-sale and restrictions on selling to minors, aiming to limit youth access while creating new regulatory requirements for the industry.
SB 596 appropriates $169 million from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund to North Carolina Central University for critical campus repairs. The funds are allocated as $100 million for HVAC, fire safety, and building code upgrades; $9 million for roof and structural repairs; and $60 million for replacing aging electrical, water, and steam infrastructure. These repairs directly address immediate safety risks and system failures affecting the university's campus operations and facilities. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, with funding designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
SB 642, the SAVE Students Act, requires all North Carolina public school students in grades 6-12 to receive two hours annually of evidence-based training on suicide/violence prevention and social inclusion. The training, approved by the Department of Public Instruction, covers identifying warning signs, accessing mental health resources, and fostering peer connections. School staff with regular student contact must also complete one hour of annual suicide/violence prevention training. Schools may use assemblies, digital tools, or other methods for delivery, and parents can opt students out. The bill also mandates school mental health plans and allows student-led suicide prevention clubs.
SB 149 authorizes Henderson County to construct community college buildings (including renovations and repairs) on Blue Ridge Community College's campuses within the county, overriding certain existing procurement laws. The county can finance these projects through bonds or state appropriations, with the college temporarily transferring property as security for financing (returned once paid off), and must lease completed buildings back to the college. This directly affects Henderson County (as the builder) and Blue Ridge Community College (as the lessee), requiring ongoing consultation between the county and college board during construction.
HB 767 establishes the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Market Rate Compensation for Teachers. This commission will study public school teacher pay and benefits in North Carolina, comparing them to other states and professions, and analyze teacher attrition rates. Composed of legislators, gubernatorial appointees, and the State Superintendent, the commission will hold public meetings across the state. Its purpose is to gather data and provide legislative recommendations on teacher compensation to the General Assembly by the end of 2026.
House Bill 946 establishes a new class of teaching license in North Carolina specifically for educators in Montessori schools. This "Montessori license" allows individuals to teach only in schools that primarily use Montessori instruction. To qualify, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree, possess a valid credential from a recognized Montessori organization, and complete any required state examinations. This license does not permit the holder to teach in public schools that are not Montessori schools unless they also hold a separate public school teaching license.
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