Bill > H325

This bill establishes the Legislative Building Field Trip Pilot Program for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, designed to promote civic engagement by helping public schools conduct annual field trips to the Legislative Building. The Department of Public Instruction will develop application criteria by August 1 each year, with applications due by October 1, and will prioritize selecting school units located in tier 1 counties (economically distressed areas). Selected public school units can receive up to $2,000 per school to cover transportation expenses like bus rental, fuel, and driver compensation. Each participating school unit must submit a proposed budget, and the Department will choose recipients by November 1. By February 15 each year, the Department must report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, detailing the grant recipients, how funds were used, the number of students who toured the Legislative Building, and information about unfunded applications. The program is funded with $1.5 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, with the program set to become effective on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H325