This bill creates the Midwifery Education Grant Program to increase the number of midwives in North Carolina by funding training programs at specific University of North Carolina institutions. It provides up to $20 million in state funds to support eligible universities that offer advanced nursing degrees but currently lack certified nurse-midwife training programs. To receive grants, institutions must partner with a hospital, submit a budget, and commit to graduating at least 20 midwives within five years, with priority given to historically black colleges and universities. The legislation appropriates $4 million per institution and requires the university system to report on grant usage and program timelines to state oversight committees.
This bill creates a pilot program in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools to help student-athletes improve their mental health and coping skills through structured wellness sessions. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, participating high schools must offer eight mandatory mindset sessions per year led by mental health professionals, with optional one-on-one support available. The program includes anonymous surveys to track student progress and requires a final report detailing how the funds were used and whether the initiative should be expanded. A one-time grant of $180,000 is provided to the Master's League Foundation to cover the costs of running the program, including staff, coordination, and a potential off-site facility.
This bill requires the North Carolina Center for Safer Schools to create an interactive presentation detailing the legal, medical, and emotional consequences of youth gun possession and related issues. It mandates that all public schools provide this presentation to every seventh and ninth-grade student, with parents receiving notice and the option to opt their children out at least two weeks in advance. The legislation also allocates $900,000 in recurring state funds starting in 2026 to help schools develop the necessary training and materials for delivering the program.
This bill modifies the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program to clarify how forgivable scholarship loans are administered and to set specific rules for grant funding. It designates the Authority to manage loan agreements and repayment monitoring while requiring the Commission to select up to eight grant recipients annually for principal preparation and two recipients for innovative training development. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for grant recipients, mandating the collection of data on student achievement, job placement rates, and retention in high-need schools. Additionally, the bill allows the use of administrative funds from the Trust Fund to cover program operations, staff salaries, and evaluation costs, with limits set at the greater of two percent of appropriated funds or one hundred sixty thousand dollars per year.
This bill allocates state funding to ensure that every public school in Edgecombe and Pitt Counties employs at least one full-time, permanent school nurse. Starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the legislation provides specific recurring funds to the Department of Public Instruction for each county, with the money designated to supplement existing resources rather than replace them. The act takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies only to public schools within these two specific counties.
HB 1017 aims to improve teacher quality and availability in North Carolina by creating new roles, funding recruitment programs, and launching studies to address workforce challenges. The bill directs the state to develop a comprehensive plan for reforming teacher licensing and compensation to attract more educators, while also studying how to better prepare and graduate 5,000 in-state teachers annually. Significant funding is allocated to support existing and new teacher recruitment initiatives, such as "Grow-Your-Own" programs and the Teaching Fellows loan program, specifically targeting high-need schools and subjects like special education and STEM. Additionally, the legislation mandates a study to coordinate recruitment efforts between universities and local school districts to ensure a more efficient statewide system.
This bill creates a matching savings program and a tax deduction to encourage parents to save for their children's education in North Carolina. Under the new Parental Savings Trust Fund matching program, eligible parents with household incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines can receive a $100 match for every $50 they contribute to an account for a student aged 14 or younger, with a maximum annual match of $500 and a lifetime limit of $1,500 per student. The state will fund this matching program with $180,000 in recurring money starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Additionally, the bill allows taxpayers to deduct up to $2,000 from their state income taxes for contributions to these education savings accounts, with a $4,000 limit for married couples filing jointly. These provisions are designed to help low-to-moderate-income families build education funds while providing an immediate tax benefit for their contributions.
HB 1161 establishes state protections for artificial intelligence across elections, education, employment, courts, and insurance. In elections, the bill bans the use of AI-generated images, videos, voices, or text in political advertisements and imposes severe penalties, including donation freezes, for violations. For schools, it empowers local districts to restrict student access to AI tools and allows for disciplinary action, while also mandating new middle school courses on critical thinking and technology awareness. The legislation appropriates funds to help implement these measures and applies to political ads immediately and to school policies starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.
This bill creates a one-time grant program for the 2026-2027 school year to help public school districts in North Carolina start Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) where they do not currently exist. The state will provide $2,000 for each school without a PTA, up to a total of $30,000 per district, but requires the district to match every dollar of state funding with two dollars of their own money. Districts must use these funds specifically to establish new PTAs and return any unspent money if a PTA is not formed for each school that received a grant. The program includes a requirement for the state education department to report on how many PTAs were created and any effects on student outcomes by April 2027.
HB 1031 mandates that all public schools in North Carolina, including charter and laboratory schools, provide free breakfast and lunch to every student starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill requires the State Board of Education to allocate state funds based on factors like school size, student eligibility for free meals, and the quality of food served, while ensuring these funds supplement rather than replace existing resources. An initial appropriation of $116 million is designated to support this program, with the legislation taking effect on July 1, 2026.
