Summary of North Carolina Senate Bill SB 981 (2025 Session)
Title: AI in Ed Task Force and Standards
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Status: Filed April 30, 2026
Primary Sponsors: Senators Murdock and Salvador
Overview
SB 981 would establish a new Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIE) Task Force to study, recommend, and oversee the use of AI tools in education. It also would require age-appropriate AI instruction for K–12 students and authorize related state funding for implementation and teacher development. The bill blends stakeholder collaboration, policy exploration, and instructional standards to balance innovation with protections and ethical considerations.
Part I: Establishment of the Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIE) Task Force
Purpose
- Create an AIE Task Force to gather information, evaluate, and oversee AI use in educational settings.
- Balance innovation with public interest, mitigate AI-related risks, and consider regulatory implications.
Membership and Governance
- Voting Members (6 total):
1) Senate member appointed by the President Pro Tempore (co-chair)
2) House of Representatives member appointed by the Speaker (co-chair)
3) State Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee
4) Chair of the UNC Board of Governors or designee
5) Secretary of the Department of Information Technology or designee
6) A representative of the NC AI Leadership Council, chosen by the Council
- Advisory/Ex Officio Members: The Chair of the Task Force, with consent of the Superintendent, UNC Board of Governors Chair, and IT Secretary, may appoint nonvoting ex officio members to provide expertise across:
- Workforce development
- Elementary and secondary education (public or private)
- 4-year postsecondary education (public or proprietary)
- Private business entities
- Rules and Procedures:
- The Task Force will adopt its own procedural rules.
- A majority of members present constitutes a quorum; a majority vote of those present is required for recommendations to the General Assembly.
Responsibilities and Work Plan
- Draft tentative revisions to North Carolina General Statutes relating to regulation of AI in education.
- Review applicable federal and state laws, focusing on:
- Data privacy and protection
- Frameworks for testing AI tools
- Ethical compliance
- Liability
- Compile recommendations on best practices, potential uses for AI in schools, and funding needs for AI development and deployment.
- Report findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 15, 2028.
Administrative Support and Timeline
- Administrative support provided by the Department of Public Instruction.
- Members receive per diem and travel expenses.
- Term and dissolution:
- Task Force begins within 15 days of the act’s effective date.
- Must dissolve by December 31, 2027.
- First meeting and officer elections to occur at inception.
Section 1(d) Rules and Section 1(e) Purpose
- The Task Force will set meeting times/places and conduct its business by majority rule.
- Its purpose is to balance AI innovation with public interest and mitigate unintended consequences.
Section 1(h) Reporting
- Final report with findings and recommendations due to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 15, 2028.
Part II: Age-Appropriate AI Instruction Requirements
AI Instruction Standards (Education Standards)
- Section 115C-81.66 added: The State Board of Education must adopt age-appropriate standards for AI instruction in kindergarten through 12th grade.
- Core Standards to be Included:
- Basic concepts of AI and how AI systems source and create content (educationally appropriate)
- Real-world applications of AI
- Responsible and ethical use of AI
- How to access AI tools
- Critical thinking skills related to analyzing AI outputs
- Integration with Existing Curriculum:
- Standards may be included within middle/high school computer science standards where appropriate.
- Teacher Professional Development:
- If funds are available, the Department of Public Instruction shall provide professional development for teachers and administrators on AI and its use in education.
Funding (Section 2(b))
- A one-time General Fund appropriation of $250,000 for Fiscal Year 2026–2027 to implement the AI instruction standards.
- Nonrecurring funding; usage contingent on availability of funds.
Effective Date
- Section 2(b) funding provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
- The remainder of the act becomes effective upon enactment.
Potential Impact and Considerations
- creates a formal structure to study and guide AI use in NC schools, including governance, accountability, and risk management.
- Establishes standardized, age-appropriate AI education for K–12, with a focus on understanding, ethics, real-world use, and critical thinking.
- Sets up cross-sector collaboration (education, government IT, higher education, and private sector) to inform policy and standards.
- Provides limited initial funding for teacher development related to AI integration in classrooms.
- Creates a defined sunset (December 31, 2027) and a deadline for reporting (March 15, 2028).
Note: This summary reflects the bill text as filed and does not account for amendments or changes that may occur during the legislative process.
