Expanding Workforce and Education Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 689

Short Title: Expanding Workforce and Education Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Cervania, Harrison, and Prather (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 3, 2025
*H689-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO EXPAND NOR TH CAROLINA'S WORKFORCE BY PROVIDING IN-STATE 2
TUITION TO NORTH CAR OLINA HIGH SCHOOL GR ADUATES WHO MEET 3
CERTAIN CRITERIA. 4
Whereas, a one percentage point (1%) increase in the postsecondary attainment rate 5
would have resulted in over five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) in additional economic 6
growth for North Carolina over just one year according to the United States Bureau of Economic 7
Analysis; and 8
Whereas, over eighty percent (80%) of the State's employer s reported difficulty in 9
finding employees for jobs requiring industry -valued credentials, and these high -skills jobs are 10
expected to increase by more than eleven percent (11%) in the next six years; and 11
Whereas, while North Carolina's employers report dif ficulty in finding skilled 12
employees, postsecondary enrollment for The University of North Carolina constituent 13
institutions and North Carolina community colleges has fallen on average by 2.7% since 2019; 14
and 15
Whereas, North Carolina must pursue multiple st rategies to increase postsecondary 16
enrollment so the State can have more potential employees entering the workforce with 17
industry-valued credentials; Now, therefore, 18
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 19
SECTION 1. G.S. 116-143.1 is amended by adding the following new subsections 20
to read: 21
"(n) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person who meets all of the 22
following qualifications shall be eligible to be charged the in-State tuition rate: 23
(1) The person graduated and received a high school diploma from a school 24
within North Carolina that is not a nonpublic residential school. 25
(2) The person enrolled in the institution of higher education in the school year 26
immediately following his or her graduation and receipt of a high school 27
diploma. 28
(3) The person attended North Carolina public or nonpublic schools for a 29
minimum of four consecutive years immediately prior to high school 30
graduation and receipt of a high school diploma. 31
(4) The person holds an unexpired North Carolina drivers license or special 32
identification card issued under G.S. 20-37.7. 33
(5) The person has received a social security number and card from the United 34
States Social Security Administration. 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 689-First Edition
This subsection does not make a person a resident of North Carolina for any other purpose. 1
(o) A person who is eligible to be charged the in-State tuition rate as provided in 2
subsection (n) of this section shall provide evidence of his or her unexpired North Carolina 3
drivers license or special identification card at the beginning of each semester of enrollment to 4
continue to be eligible to be charged the in-State tuition rate. 5
(p) Any information obtained as part of the process of applying for the in-State tuition 6
rate pursuant to subsection (n) or (o) of this section shall be confidential and is not a public 7
record." 8
SECTION 2. G.S. 116-143.4 reads as rewritten: 9
"§ 116-143.4. Admissions status of persons charged in-State tuition. 10
(a) A person eligible for the in -State tuition rate pursuant to this Articl e shall be 11
considered an in -State applicant for the purpose of admission; provided that, admission. 12
However, a person eligible for in-State tuition pursuant to G.S. 116-143.3(c) shall be considered 13
an in-State applicant for the purpose of admission only if at the time of seeking admission he the 14
person is enrolled in a high school located in North Carolina or enrolled in an adult high school 15
equivalency diploma program in an institution located in this State. 16
(b) A person eligible for the in-State tuition rate pursuant to G.S. 116-143.1(n) shall not 17
be considered an in-State applicant for the purposes of admi ssion to a constituent institution of 18
The University of North Carolina." 19
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies beginning with 20
the 2025-2026 academic year. 21