Education

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1077: NC Working Families Economic Relief Act.

HB 1077 creates a grant program for North Carolina community colleges to train students as tax preparers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, allowing them to help low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and limited English speakers file their taxes for free. The bill provides $1.38 million in initial funding and $610,000 in recurring funds to support curriculum development, faculty incentives, and paid work-based learning opportunities where students earn hourly wages during tax season. Additionally, the legislation allocates $840,000 to the United Way of North Carolina to expand its VITA services by increasing the number of locations, hiring dedicated staff, and improving outreach and financial education resources. These measures aim to help an estimated 225,000 eligible North Carolina filers claim the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which has an average value of about $2,894 per person. The act takes effect on July 1, 2026, and includes provisions for training and technical assistance to ensure the program runs effectively.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $1.38M in initial funding and recurring funds to expand tax assistance for low-income individuals.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides funding for community college tax preparer training, expanding educational access and student programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Curriculum

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 939: Drivers Education Modifications.

This bill updates North Carolina laws regarding driver education and commercial driver training to improve safety and oversight. It requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to provide free printed copies of the driver's license handbook to public schools, ensuring students learn about proper interactions with law enforcement during traffic stops. The legislation also imposes stricter rules on commercial driver training schools, mandating they meet public school education standards and keep their contracts available for inspection. Additionally, the bill establishes continuing education requirements for driver instructors, sets specific license renewal fees, and allocates $100,000 in state funds to help cover the costs of these new regulations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances public safety and police-community interaction by ensuring students learn proper traffic stop protocols.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates DMV provide free license handbooks to public schools and requires commercial driver training to meet public school standards, enhancing educational resources and curriculum.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by updating driver education and imposing stricter rules on commercial driver training schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Driver Licensing

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 949: Fully Fund School Psychologists and Counselors.

This North Carolina bill allocates $359.3 million in recurring funds to hire additional school psychologists and counselors starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The legislation establishes specific staffing ratios, requiring one psychologist for every 700 students and one counselor for every 250 students statewide. These positions are intended to create a tiered support system for students within the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $359.3M in recurring funds to hire school psychologists and counselors, directly increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $359.3M to hire additional psychologists and counselors, establishing specific staffing ratios to enhance student mental health support.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $359.3M to hire school psychologists and counselors, directly funding and expanding mental health services and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 850: Pay Teachers What They're Worth Act.

This North Carolina bill aims to address teacher shortages by increasing salaries and creating new financial support for educators. It establishes a new monthly salary schedule for teachers starting in the 2026-2027 school year and reinstates specific pay bonuses for those with advanced degrees or professional certifications. Additionally, the legislation creates a grant program to help student teachers earn money while completing their training and directs a state study on how to further improve educator pay.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases teacher salaries and creates new funding/grants for educators, directly advancing the budget topic.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases teacher salaries, reinstates bonuses, and creates grants for student teachers to address shortages.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases teacher salaries, reinstates bonuses, and creates grants for student teachers, directly strengthening wages and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 22, 2026

HB 1020: Personal Education Student Account Class Aides and Children of Wartime Veterans Funds.

This bill allows parents of students in private schools to use their education savings accounts to pay for one-on-one classroom aides, provided the aide is not a family member or school employee. It also updates the rules for these accounts by clarifying which specific services and expenses are eligible for funding and which are not. The legislation further allocates state funds to increase scholarship amounts for children of wartime veterans and to create new scholarships for them starting in the 2026-2027 school year. These changes apply to the North Carolina Personal Education Student Account program and the Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship Program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds to increase scholarship amounts and creates new scholarships for children of wartime veterans, directly funding education assistance programs.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by allowing ESA funds for aides and increases scholarship amounts for veterans' children.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill allocates state funds to increase and create scholarships specifically for children of wartime veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · North Carolina · House Jun 2, 2026

HJR 1030: US Department of Education.

This North Carolina joint resolution urges the U.S. Congress to eliminate the United States Department of Education by returning control of education to the states. The bill argues that federal involvement has led to excessive regulations and mandates without improving student reading scores, asserting that states are better equipped to handle education based on local needs. It also states that removing the department would not stop federal funding programs from reaching states but would instead allow taxpayer dollars to be used more efficiently. As a non-binding resolution, it does not directly change laws or allocate funds but serves as a formal statement of support for federal efforts to abolish the department.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill seeks to eliminate the US Department of Education, effectively defunding federal education programs and reducing federal government spending.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill seeks to eliminate the US Department of Education, arguing federal involvement causes excessive regulation without improving outcomes, thus restricting federal support for education.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House May 5, 2026

HB 1202: First Responder Training Track.

HB 1202 allocates $6.1 million in state funds to Forsyth Technical Community College to create a law enforcement driving training center in King, North Carolina. This facility will feature a driving pad, roadway, and instructional building designed to support basic law enforcement training and ongoing education for police officers. The project is a partnership between the college and the City of Winston-Salem, with funding designated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates $6.1 million in state funds to fund a law enforcement training center, directly strengthening fiscal support for public safety education.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates funds to create a law enforcement training center, enhancing officer education and operational readiness.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $6.1M to a community college for a law enforcement training center, directly funding higher education infrastructure and professional development.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill funds a specialized driving training center for law enforcement, enhancing vehicle safety and operational skills for drivers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Higher Education Roads & Highways Tags Public Safety

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 962: Investing in North Carolina Act.

This bill, titled the Investing in North Carolina Act, establishes a new salary schedule for public school teachers and provides raises for state employees, community college staff, and University of North Carolina employees. The proposed teacher salary schedule sets monthly pay based on years of experience, ranging from $4,600 for new teachers to $6,370 for those with 29 or more years of service, while also adding specific supplements for certified teachers, school nurses, counselors, and other instructional support personnel. These salary increases are contingent on the failure of the 2026-2027 Current Operations Appropriations Act to pass, meaning the changes would only take effect if that budget bill does not become law. Additionally, the bill includes a 6% cost-of-living adjustment for eligible state-funded employees effective July 1, 2026, and allocates $921.2 million in recurring funds to implement the teacher salary raises.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases funding for public education and state employees through salary raises, directly advancing the budget topic.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes new salary schedules and provides raises for public school teachers and higher education staff, directly enhancing educator compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education Teachers

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died · North Carolina · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 1124: Interstate Compact for School Psychologists.

This bill establishes an Interstate Compact for School Psychologists in North Carolina, allowing licensed professionals to practice in other participating states without facing repetitive licensing requirements. The legislation creates a commission to oversee the agreement and defines specific rules for mobility, including provisions for military families and standards for professional conduct. Additionally, the bill allocates funds to support a virtual training program for school psychologists. By streamlining the licensure process, the measure aims to increase the availability of qualified mental health services in schools across member states.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates funds for a virtual training program and establishes a commission, directly supporting budget appropriations for education services.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes a compact to improve school psychologist mobility and allocates funds for training, directly supporting educational access and staff development.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates funds for training and expands access to mental health services by enabling interstate practice for school psychologists.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 799: Restore State Emp/Teacher Retiree Med Benefit.

This bill prevents the elimination of medical benefits for retired teachers and state employees in North Carolina who began their careers on or after January 1, 2021. It achieves this by removing previous restrictions that would have ended these benefits and applies retroactively to December 31, 2020. To cover the resulting increase in healthcare costs, the legislation appropriates two million dollars from the state's general fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The changes are scheduled to officially take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2M to fund medical benefits for retirees, directly strengthening budget allocation for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects and restores medical benefits for retired teachers, directly supporting educators and preventing benefit cuts.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects medical benefits for retired teachers and state employees and appropriates $2M to fund these healthcare costs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects retired state employees and teachers from losing medical benefits, expanding worker benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Teachers

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