The North Carolina General Assembly recently marked the “crossover deadline” on May 4, which is the last day for bills to pass out of their originating chamber and move forward for consideration in the opposite chamber, with a few exceptions such as finance, appropriations, and other specific types of bills. Several higher-education bills made it through this process. Here’s a summary of those that did:
Higher-Education Bills That Made Crossover
- HB 96 NC REACH Act
- Summary: Requires a three-credit course in American history or government for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UNC-System institutions or an associate’s degree at N.C. community colleges. The course includes required readings from key American historical documents.
- Impact: Aims to ensure that students have a foundational understanding of American history and government.
- HB 97 In-State Tuition Pilot Program
- Summary: Allows Tri-County Community College to offer in-state tuition to residents of four Georgia border counties. The program will be reviewed and reported on by September 30, 2024, and will expire at the end of the 2026-27 academic year.
- Impact: Could influence future decisions on tuition policies and interstate educational collaborations.
- HB 113 Prohibit Renaming of Fayetteville State
- Summary: Prevents the renaming of Fayetteville State University, ensuring it retains its current name.
- Impact: Addresses ongoing rumors and secures the institution’s historical name.
- HB 149 CC President Confirmation
- Summary: Transfers the power of electing the president of the Community College System to the General Assembly. The State Board selects a candidate, and the General Assembly confirms or denies the appointment.
- Impact: Changes the selection process for the system president, increasing legislative involvement.
- HB 282 Trade Schools Study
- Summary: Requires a report on the state’s trade workforce, detailing the process to become a worker in specific trades and providing data on current and projected workforce needs.
- Impact: Aims to inform strategies for supporting trade education and workforce development.
- HB 317 UNC Omnibus
- Summary: Introduces various changes to the UNC System, including exemptions from the State Human Resources Act for certain staff, inclusion of the North Carolina School of Science and Math in a distinguished professor fund, and granting the Board of Governors authority over certain FLSA-exempt employees.
- Impact: Streamlines administrative processes and adjusts faculty and staff governance.
- HB 446 Expedite Surplus Prop. / Educational Orgs.
- Summary: Expedites the process for educational organizations to acquire surplus materials and property from the federal government.
- Impact: Facilitates resource acquisition for educational institutions.
- HB 574 Fairness in Women’s Sports
- Summary: Requires collegiate sports programs to designate teams based on biological sex, applying to UNC System institutions, community colleges, and private North Carolina institutions.
- Impact: Establishes guidelines for gender designation in sports, impacting athletic eligibility.
- HB 601 CC Funding and Accountability
- Summary: Requires a study on improving the funding model and accountability for community colleges, with a report due by March 1, 2024.
- Impact: Seeks to optimize funding allocation and accountability measures for community colleges.
- HB 607 Prohibit Compelled Speech / Higher Ed.
- Summary: Prohibits compelling students or employees to endorse or describe actions related to political or social issues in admissions or employment applications.
- Impact: Protects against compelled speech, reinforcing free speech rights in higher education.
- SB 574 Authorize NIL Agency Contracts
- Summary: Authorizes “name, image, and likeness” (NIL) agency contracts for collegiate athletes, exempting certain contracts from public records requests.
- Impact: Allows athletes to monetize their NIL, with guidelines to avoid conflicts with institutional policies.
- SB 680 Revise Higher Ed Accreditation Processes
- Summary: Proposes changes to the accreditation processes for the UNC System and the Community College System, including prohibiting consecutive accreditation by one agency and allowing accreditation transfer procedures.
- Impact: Aims to diversify and improve the accreditation process.
- SB 692 Community College Governance
- Summary: Requires the president of the NC Community College System to be confirmed by the General Assembly, reforms contract provisions, and changes the appointment process for boards of trustees, shifting authority from the governor to the General Assembly.
- Impact: Increases legislative control over community college governance and appointments.
These bills represent significant potential reforms to North Carolina’s higher education system, impacting governance, curriculum, funding, and student rights. They still need to pass the second chamber and receive the governor’s approval to become law.
