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H981 • 2025

Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Schietzelt, Rhyne, Willis
Last action
2025-05-08
Official status
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

H981-SMRQ-53(CSRQ-15)-v-2 (2025-05-06): Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

What This Bill Does

  • H981-SMRQ-53(CSRQ-15)-v-2 (2025-05-06): Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.
  • H981-SMRQ-55(CSRQ-15)-v-2 (2025-05-06): Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.
  • H981-SMRQ-56(e3)-v-2 (2025-05-06): Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Filed

Plain English: 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 981: Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

  • 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 981: Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.
  • Committee: House Education - K-12.
  • If favorable, re-refer to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Date: May 6, 2025 Introduced by: Reps.
  • Schietzelt, Rhyne, Willis Prepared by: Drupti Chauhan Committee Counsel Analysis of: PCS to Second Edition H981-CSRQ-15 Kara McCraw Director *H981-SMRQ-53(CSRQ-15)-v-2* Legislative Analysis Division 919-733-2578 This bill analysis was prepared by the nonpartisan legislative staff for the use of legislators in their deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
Filed

Plain English: 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 981: Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

  • 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 981: Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.
  • Committee: House Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Date: May 7, 2025 Introduced by: Reps.
  • Schietzelt, Rhyne, Willis Prepared by: Drupti Chauhan Committee Counsel Analysis of: Third Edition Kara McCraw Director *H981-SMRQ-55(CSRQ-15)-v-2* Legislative Analysis Division 919-733-2578 This bill analysis was prepared by the nonpartisan legislative staff for the use of legislators in their deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
  • OVERVIEW: House Bill 981 would direct the Department of Public Instruction to study how LEAs can allow students to attend any school within the LEA in which the student is domiciled, other than the assigned base school.
Filed

Plain English: 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 981: Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

  • 2025-2026 General Assembly HOUSE BILL 981: Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.
  • Committee: House Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Date: May 7, 2025 Introduced by: Reps.
  • Schietzelt, Rhyne, Willis Prepared by: Drupti Chauhan Committee Counsel Analysis of: Third Edition Kara McCraw Director *H981-SMRQ-56(e3)-v-2* Legislative Analysis Division 919-733-2578 This bill analysis was prepared by the nonpartisan legislative staff for the use of legislators in their deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
  • OVERVIEW: House Bill 981 would direct the Department of Public Instruction to study how LEAs can allow students to attend any school within the LEA in which the student is domiciled, other than the assigned base school.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-08 Senate

    Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  2. 2025-05-08 Senate

    Passed 1st Reading

  3. 2025-05-08 Senate

    Special Message Received From House

  4. 2025-05-08 House

    Special Message Sent To Senate

  5. 2025-05-07 House

    Passed 3rd Reading

  6. 2025-05-07 House

    Passed 2nd Reading

  7. 2025-05-07 House

    Added to Calendar

  8. 2025-05-07 House

    Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)

  9. 2025-05-07 House

    Reptd Fav

  10. 2025-05-06 House

    Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  11. 2025-05-06 House

    Reptd Fav Com Substitute

  12. 2025-04-14 House

    Ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  13. 2025-04-14 House

    Passed 1st Reading

  14. 2025-04-10 House

    Filed

Official Summary Text

H981-SMRQ-53(CSRQ-15)-v-2
(2025-05-06): Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.
H981-SMRQ-55(CSRQ-15)-v-2
(2025-05-06): Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.
H981-SMRQ-56(e3)-v-2
(2025-05-06): Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 3
HOUSE BILL 981
Corrected Copy 4/15/25
Committee Substitute Favorable 5/6/25

Short Title: Local Schools Open Enrollment Study. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
April 14, 2025
*H981-v-3*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO STUDY HOW 2
LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS CAN ALLOW STUDENTS TO ATTEND 3
ANY SCHOOL WITHIN THE LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT IN WHICH 4
THE STUDENT IS DOMICILED. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
SECTION 1. The Department of Public Instruction (Department) shall study how 7
local school administrative units can allow students to attend any school within the local school 8
administrative unit in which the student is domiciled, other than the assigned base school . The 9
study shall include, at a minimum, the following: 10
(1) A review of existing voluntary open enrollment and freedom of choice plans. 11
(2) Considerations for implementing mandatory open enrollment plans, 12
including: 13
a. The number of enrollment periods a ma ndatory open enrollment plan 14
should have in a year. 15
b. Types of application processes for mandatory open enrollment plans. 16
c. How school capacity issues should be addressed and communicated to 17
parents, including waitlist options. 18
d. Transportation options for students when they choose a school other 19
than their assigned base school. 20
e. Reasons that would let a local school administrative unit deny a 21
request under a mandatory open enrollment plan. 22
f. Any appeals processes that would be available for denials o f requests 23
of school assignment under a mandatory open enrollment plan. 24
(3) Any other information deemed relevant by the Department. 25
SECTION 2. The Department shall report its findings, including any recommended 26
legislation, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, by April 15, 2026. 27
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law. 28