Bill > S715

This bill establishes the Student Voter Identification Grant Program, which will provide $500,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to help community colleges upgrade their equipment and facilities to produce student identification cards that can be used for voting. Each community college can receive up to $20,000 to develop these voter-acceptable ID cards, with the State Board of Community Colleges responsible for developing an application process and awarding grants by August 15, 2025. The State Board of Elections will review and approve the student ID card applications submitted by September 1, 2025, ensuring they meet voter identification requirements under state law (G.S. 163-166.16). The bill's intent is to remove financial barriers preventing community colleges from providing students with valid photo identification for voting, and it encourages all community colleges without current voting-acceptable student IDs to apply for the grants. Each community college can receive only one grant under the program, and the Community Colleges System Office must report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by February 15, 2026, detailing which colleges received grants and how the funds were spent. The program will become effective on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S715