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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
SESSION LAW 2026-20
SENATE BILL 227
*S227-v-4*
AN ACT TO DEMONSTRATE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S INTENT THAT STUDENTS,
TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHER SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZE
THE EQUALITY AND RIG HTS OF ALL PERSONS A ND TO PROHIBIT PUBLI C
SCHOOL UNITS FROM PROMOTING CERTAIN CONCEPTS THAT ARE CONTRARY
TO THAT INTENT.
Whereas, President Trump issued an executive order on January 29, 2025, to protect
American students and ensure that K -12 recipients of federal funds comply with all applicable
laws prohibiting discrimination and protecting parental rights; and
Whereas, in the last fiscal year, North Carolina received $3.1 billion in federal funding
for K -12 education, demonstrating the importance of ensuring that public schools remain in
compliance with federal regulations to protect education funding; and
Whereas, the General Assembly is committed to ensuring all North Carolina public
school students receive a meaningful education based on academic excellence, critical thinking,
and the free exchange of ideas; and
Whereas, it is the State's role to p rotect the practice of education for public school
students and teachers; and
Whereas, so -called "DEI" programs promote a worldview that demands people,
especially young students, to judge others based on their race, sex, or other factors and attack
true diversity of thought, stifle opportunity, and stoke division; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 115C-12(9c) is amended by adding a new sub-subdivision to read:
"d. The Board shall not approve, provide, recomme nd, or require
professional development that is prohibited by
G.S. 115C-76.210(a)(4)."
SECTION 2. Article 7B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by
adding the following new sections to read:
"§ 115C-76.200. Intent.
The General Assembly finds that Section 1 of Article I of the Constitution of this State
recognizes the equality and rights of all persons . Therefore, it is the intent of the General
Assembly that students, teachers, administrators, and other school employees respect the dignity
of others, acknowledge the right of others to express differing opinions, and foster and defend
intellectual honesty, freedom of inquiry and instruction, and freedom of speech and association
and that the public schools of this State employ teaching methods and procedures to further that
intent.
"§ 115C-76.205. Definitions.
For the purposes of this Part, the following definitions apply:
(1) Discriminatory practice. – Any of the following based on an individual 's
protected classification under federal law:
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a. Treating an individual differently solely to advantage or disadvantage
that individual as compared to other individuals or groups.
b. Excluding an individual from employment , except as allowed under
federal law.
c. Excluding an individual from participation in an educational program
or activity, except as allowed under federal law.
(2) Divisive concept. – Any of the following concepts:
a. One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex.
b. An individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently
racist, sexist, or oppressive.
c. An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse
treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex.
d. An individual's moral character is necessarily determined by his or her
race or sex.
e. An individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears
responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of
the same race or sex.
f. Any individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, should feel
discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress.
g. A meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist.
h. The United States was created by members of a particular race or sex
for the purpose of oppressing members of another race or sex.
i. Particular character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or
beliefs should be ascribed to a race or sex or to an individual because
of the individual's race or sex.
j. The rule of law does not exist but instead is a series of power
relationships and struggles among racial or other groups.
k. All Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness.
l. Governments should deny to any perso n within the government 's
jurisdiction the equal protection of the law.
(3) Instruction. – Includes content taught or presented to students by employees,
contractors, or individuals otherwise engaged by a public school unit.
(4) Professional development. – Includes seminars, workshops, and other
trainings delivered by employees , contractors, or individuals otherwise
engaged by a public school unit.
"§ 115C-76.210. Ensuring dignity and nondiscrimination in schools.
(a) Public school units shall not do any of the following:
(1) Engage in or advocate for discriminatory practices.
(2) Compel students , teachers, administrators, or other school employees to
affirm or profess belief in divisive concepts.
(3) Provide instruction to students on divisive concepts.
(4) Engage in any of the following with respect to professional development that
includes or advocates for divisive concepts or discriminatory practices:
a. Approve, recommend, or require a professional educator to participate
in the professional development.
b. Develop, purchase, or provide the professional development.
c. Contract with an entity for the professional development.
d. Provide an entity access for the purpose of delivering the professional
development.
Senate Bill 227 Session Law 2026-20 Page 3
(5) Maintain an office, division, or other unit (i) promoting discriminatory
practices or divisive concepts or (ii) referred to as or named diversity, equity,
and inclusion.
(6) Employ or assign an employee whose duties for a public school unit include
promoting discriminatory practices or divisive concepts.
(b) This section shall not be construed to limit any of the following:
(1) Speech protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
(2) Materials accessed on an individual basis that advocate divisive concepts or
discriminatory practices for the purpose of research or independent study.
(3) Policies, procedures, or professional development required by State or federal
law.
(4) Instruction on divisive concepts in accordance with the standard course of
study in contexts that make clear the public school unit does not sponsor,
approve, or endorse any divisive concepts, including instruction related to the
following:
a. The history of an ethnic group, as described in textbooks and
instructional materials adopted in accordance with Part 3 of Article 8
of this Chapter.
b. The impartial discussion of controversial aspects of history.
c. The impartial discussion of the historical oppression of a par ticular
group of people based on race, ethnicity, class, nationality, religion, or
geographic region.
d. Historical documents that are permitted under G.S. 115C-47(29c).
(5) Single-sex schools, educational programs, or activities operated in compliance
with State or federal law.
(c) Each public school unit shall certify annually in writing by September 1 to the
Department of Public Instruction that the public school unit fully complies with the requirements
of this section, including any actions taken to achieve compliance. The Department shall
summarize the certifications in a consolidated report by January 15 annually to the Joint
Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Joint Legislative Education
Oversight Committee."
SECTION 2.5.(a) G.S. 115C-47 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C-47. Powers and duties generally.
In addition to the powers and duties designated in G.S. 115C-36, local boards of education
shall have the power or duty:
…
(18) To Make Rules Concerning the Conduct and Duties of Personnel. – Local
boards of education, upon the recommendation of the superintendent, shall
have full power to make all just and needful rules and regulations adopt
policies governing the conduct of teachers, principals, and supervisors,
employees, the kind of reports they shall make, and their duties in the care of
school property. The policies governing the conduct of employees shall
prohibit discrimination based on an individual's protected classification under
federal law, including antisemitism as defined in G.S. 12-3.2.
Prior to the beginning of each school year, each local board of education
shall identify all reports, including local school required reports, that are
required at the local level for the school year and shall, to the maximum extent
possible, eliminate any duplicate or obsolete reporting requirements and
consolidate remaining reporting requirements. No additional reports shall be
required at the local level after the beginning of the school year without the
prior approval of the local board of education.
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Prior to the beginning of each school year, each local board of education
shall also identify software protocols such as NC Wise that could be used to
minimize repetitious data entry by teachers and shall make them available to
teachers.
Each local board of education shall appoint a person or establish a local
paperwork control committee to monitor all reports and other paperwork
required of teachers by the central office and to monitor teachers' access to
software protocols that minimize repetitious data entry.
…."
SECTION 2.5.(b) G.S. 115C-390.2(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) Governing body policies shall include or provide for the development of a Code of
Student Conduct that notifies students of the standards of behavior expected of th em, conduct
that may subject them to discipline, and the range of disciplinary measures that may be used by
school officials. The Code of Student Conduct shall prohibit discrimination based on an
individual's protected classification under federal law, including antisemitism as defined in
G.S. 12-3.2."
SECTION 3. G.S. 115C-270.30 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(b2) Professional Educator Licensure Renewal. – No continuing education credit shall be
awarded for professional development that is prohibited by G.S. 115C-76.210(a)(4)."
SECTION 4. For the certification due September 1, 2025, as required by
G.S. 115C-76.210(c), as enacted by Section 2 of this act, each public school unit shall also
include information on the initial implementation of this act, including reductions in force and
spending, changes to job titles and position descriptions, and how savings achieved from these
actions have been directed.
SECTION 5. If any provision of this act or its application is held inv alid, the
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect
without the invalid provisions or application and, to this end, the provisions of this act are
severable.
SECTION 6. This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 26th day of June, 2025.
s/ Rachel Hunt
President of the Senate
s/ Destin Hall
Speaker of the House of Representatives
VETO Josh Stein
Governor
Became law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor at 3:11 p.m. this 24th day
of June, 2026.
s/ Mr. James White
House Principal Clerk