Bill > H378

This bill addresses multiple educational and legal areas through several key provisions. First, it requires educational institutions at all levels (K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities) to evaluate technology purchases by considering long-term ownership costs, innovation potential, and potential resale value. The bill also introduces a "break/fix rate" reporting requirement, where schools must track and report on technology device malfunctions and repair costs. Under "Leon's Law", the bill mandates that community colleges obtain consent from minor students to share their educational records with parents, with certain exceptions. The legislation expands academic transition pathways to allow sophomore high school students to take community college courses, broadens protections for military service members in higher education admissions, and provides new protections for education savings and ABLE accounts by making them exempt from certain legal claims. Additionally, the bill authorizes Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agency contracts for student-athletes, establishes specific contract requirements, and creates a public records exemption for NIL contracts. The bill also authorizes specific self-liquidating capital improvement projects for the University of North Carolina system. These changes are primarily set to take effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Budget and Finance, Education, Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H378