Highlights
2025 Appropriations Act in the News
EdNC - Hannah Vinueza McClellan, Ben Humphries, Liz Bell and Chantal Brown | May 22, 2025: House budget calls for master’s pay and higher raises for beginning teachers - “It’s a budget that we’re proud of,” House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said on Tuesday morning during a press conference. “It invests in working families in North Carolina, continues to deliver tax relief for North Carolinians while at the same time giving raises to teachers and state employees. It will actually result in us being number one in the south for starting teacher pay, which is something we’ve not accomplished in some time.”
North State Journal - A.P. Dillon | May 20, 2025: North Carolina House unveils budget plan - The House budget includes $32.59 billion for fiscal year 2025-26 and $33.32 billion for fiscal year 2026-27. The Senate version would spend $32.6 billion in year one and $33.3 billion in year two. Gov. Josh Stein’s budget proposal calls for $68 billion over the biennium.
Carolina Journal - Katherine Zehnder | May 21, 2025: Comparing reserve funds in House budget proposal to those in Senate budget - Last year, the Carolina Journal published a series examining “reserve funds,” what they are, how they work, and appropriations allocated in the previous budget to each reserve fund, including how they were spent. Now that the House has released its budget proposal, how do House reserve-fund appropriations differ from those in the Senate proposal?
Office of Governor Josh Stein - Press Release | May 21, 2025: Governor Stein’s Statement on the House Budget Proposal - “There is more work to be done to ensure our state invests in North Carolina’s most valuable resource: our people. I look forward to working with the House and Senate to negotiate a budget that supports teachers, law enforcement, state employees, and critical services and infrastructure. That’s how we’ll build a North Carolina that is safer, stronger, and more prosperous with opportunity for every person.”
State Treasurer Briner - Press Release | May 19, 2025: State Treasurer Brad Briner Releases Statement in Support of House Budget Proposal - “State House leaders have taken the needs of state employees to heart in this budget proposal,” Briner said. “The House proposal fully funds the pension plan and increases funding to the State Health Plan to help in our effort to provide affordable, high-quality health care for state workers. Investments made in salary increases and cost-of-living bonuses will help ensure that the state can retain top talent.”
House Speaker Destin Hall - Press Release | May 19, 2025: Committed to Carolina: North Carolina House Budget Boosts Teacher Pay, Delivers Tax Relief, and Cuts Government Waste - The North Carolina House of Representatives released a state budget that is Committed to Carolina, delivering meaningful pay raises for teachers and state employees, targeted tax relief for working families, and cuts to wasteful government spending, including DEI programs.
House Democratic Leader Robert Reives - Leader Reives Press Release | May 22, 2025: Leader Reives Statement on House Budget Vote - "I voted for the House Budget today understanding that there are a lot of policies I disagree with and hope to see removed during the conference period. The House is serious about governing this state and it is up to the Senate to come to the table in good faith."
VIDEOS
WRAL NEWS - Jessica Patrick | May 20, 2025: Teacher raises discussed at House budget press conference
Carolina Journal - The Debrief | May 23, 2025: Discussing the NC House and Senate budget plans
Senate Budget Proposal
Table of Contents | Legislative Fiscal Note | Legislative Actuarial Note - Retirement | Legislative Actuarial Note – Health Benefits | DPI FBS Budget Comparison | Senate Budget Summary
Notable News
The Hill - Alexander Bolton | May 23, 2025: Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ faces a swarm of Senate GOP objections - The 1,116-page bill the House passed early Thursday morning to enact President Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda faces a swarm of objections from Senate Republicans.
K-12 Dive - Kara Arundel | May 21, 2025: 3 things to know from Linda McMahon’s FY 2026 testimony - “We are going to abide by the law” - Expanding school choice - Focusing on literacy
NPR - Nina Totenberg | May 22, 2025: Supreme Court blocks creation of religious charter school in Oklahoma - A deadlocked U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday effectively blocked the creation of the nation's first religious charter school in Oklahoma, leaving in place a state Supreme Court ruling that barred the establishment of overtly religious charter schools funded by the taxpayers.
Carolina Journal - Theresa Opeka | May 20, 2025: State Health Plan members to see increased deductibles and other changes in 2026 - North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner and SHP administrators said the changes were necessary to address the plan’s projected deficit — $507 million in 2026 and between $800 million and $900 million in 2027.
From The Superintendent
Joint Statement on 2025 House Budget Proposal
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green & State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis
"While the North Carolina House's budget does not address all of the needs for North Carolina's public schools, we definitely appreciate the inclusion of noteworthy teacher compensation increases and the expansion of literacy instructional initiatives in it. These provisions reflect an understanding that investing in our teachers and ensuring strong foundational literacy skills for our students are essential priorities. While more comprehensive support for North Carolina public schools is needed, these elements represent positive steps forward. We look forward to working with legislators throughout the budget process to strengthen public education across our state."
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State Board of Education
State Board of Education June Meeting
- Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 10 AM
- Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 9 AM
About the State Board of Education
YouTube recordings of SBE meetings HERE.
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K-12 Education Bills
Bills eligible to be filed in 2025 with no deadlines:
- Redistricting bills for House, Senate, Congress, or local entities.
- Ratification of amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
- Bills providing for action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments.
- Appointments by the General Assembly.
- Adjournment resolutions.
- Bills introduced on the report of the House Committees on Appropriations, Finance, or Rules.
NCGA 2025 Crossover List - Entire list of legislation eligible for consideration for this session.
Bills in the News:
WRAL NEWS - Emily Walkenhorst | May 21, 2025: NC schools would have to teach social media risks under bill advancing in legislature - House Bill 959, which passed a key Senate committee Wednesday, would require schools to offer social media literacy lessons. They would educate students on social media’s "effects on health, including social, emotional, and physical effects."
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K-12 Education Bills to Watch
In addition to the bills scheduled to be heard in education committees next week, here are ten education bills to watch. For a complete list of education bills to watch, see the tracking link above.
- HB 414: 1-to-1 Credit for Career and College Promise
- HB 415: Modify Math & Social Studies Grad. Req.
- HB 433: Registered Nurses in Schools
- HB 773: School Performance Grade Changes
- H854: Require Licensure of Educational Interpreters
- HB 875: DPI To Redesign Math Instruction
- HB 959: Protecting Students in a Digital Age
- HB 1012: Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part II.
- SB 257: 2025 Appropriations Act
- SB 754: School Calendar Flexibility: A New Alternative
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