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HB 618

An Act providing for health insurance access protections; imposing duties on the Insurance Department and the Insurance Commissioner; and imposing penalties.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Boyd and 38 co-sponsors

The bill creates the North Carolina Charter Schools Review Board to review and approve or deny charter applications, renewals, and revocations, while the State Board retains rulema

Referred to Banking & Insurance
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Bill Summary · HB 618

Summary — HB 618: Charter School Review Board

Status: Enacted (Session Law 2023-110). Veto overridden (August 16, 2023).
Primary subject: Charter schools; reorganization of charter review/approval authority (G.S. 115C-218 et seq.)

Main purpose

Convert the existing Charter Schools Advisory Board into a Charter Schools Review Board and shift primary authority for reviewing and approving charter school applications, renewals, and revocations from the State Board of Education to the newly structured Review Board, while preserving the State Board’s rulemaking, funding, accountability and appellate roles.

Key provisions and changes

  • Renames and reorganizes the advisory body as the North Carolina Charter Schools Review Board (commonly referred to in statute as the Advisory Review Board / Review Board) and locates it administratively within the Department of Public Instruction (G.S. 115C-218).
  • Shifts substantive approval authority:
    • The Review Board is given authority to review and approve or deny charter applications, renewals, and revocations (see amended powers/duties).
    • The State Board of Education retains rulemaking authority but rules governing charter operation and approval must be recommended/first approved by the Review Board (statutory text ties State Board rulemaking to Review Board recommendation).
  • Establishes an appeal path: decisions of the Review Board may be appealed to the State Board of Education (referenced in G.S. 115C-218.9).
  • Board composition and governance:
    • The Review Board consists of appointed members (statutory text describes 11 voting members in the final law): four appointed upon recommendation of the Senate President Pro Tempore, four appointed upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House, two appointed by the State Board of Education (who are charter advocates and not current State Board members), plus the Lieutenant Governor or designee; the State Superintendent (or designee) serves as secretary and is non‑voting.
    • Members are to collectively possess expertise (governance, finance, curriculum, charter experience, law).
    • Annual election of chair and vice-chair; a majority constitutes a quorum.
    • Reimbursement of travel/expenses at G.S. 138-6(a) rates; removal allowed by 2/3 vote for cause.
  • Application process reforms:
    • Applicants receive timely notice of format or missing information and are given at least five business days to correct such issues; timely corrections receive equal consideration.
    • The Review Board (or committee) must provide applicants or charter board members an opportunity to address the Board before action.
  • Office of Charter Schools:
    • Continues as staff to the Review Board; Executive Director reports to the Superintendent.
    • Retained duties to support Review Board, provide training, help coordinate services for approved or seeking-approval charters.
  • Fast-track replication:
    • The State Board, upon recommendation of the Office and Review Board, must adopt rules/processes to fast-track replication of high-quality charter schools (no planning year required for selected fast-track applicants).

Who is affected

  • Charter applicants and existing charter schools (application, renewal, revocation, and monitoring processes).
  • The State Board of Education (rulemaking, appellate role, oversight/accountability).
  • Members and staff of the newly structured Review Board and Office of Charter Schools.
  • Local education agencies and stakeholders interacting with charter approvals and oversight.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Enacted as Session Law 2023-110. The Governor vetoed the measure (July 7, 2023); the General Assembly overrode the veto (August 16, 2023), producing the final law.
  • Statutory provisions amend G.S. 115C-218 and related sections (e.g., G.S. 115C-218.2 and 115C-218.3) to implement the structural and procedural changes described above.
  • Implementation is administered through the Office of Charter Schools within DPI and subject to subsequent rulemaking and administrative procedures.

If you want, I can extract the specific statutory language changes (redline-style) or produce a timeline summarizing key legislative actions (committee votes, floor passage, veto and override).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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