Bill
HB 772
Requires NC schools to display and annually verify Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 (text HOME to 741741) and NC Peer Warmline 855-733-7762 in student materials and dashboards.
Status / Timing
- Introduced in the 2025 session (filed April 3, 2025).
- Committee substitute reported favorable 4/29/2025.
- As of the document record, the bill’s next step was transmission to the Senate (regular message sent).
Purpose
- Require schools and governing education bodies across North Carolina to proactively provide students with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number and (in the committee substitute) the NC Peer Warmline number in a set of commonly used student materials and digital locations to improve awareness and access to crisis support.
Key provisions
- Annual verification: Boards must verify annually that the phone numbers are current and, if changed, update school materials to include the new numbers.
- Required content (default phrasing unless updated numbers exist):
- “To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741.”
- (Committee substitute adds) “To reach the NC Peer Warmline, call 855‑733‑7762.”
- Places where the phrase(s) must appear (unless an updated number exists):
- Any new student identification card issued to students in grades 6–12 (conspicuous location; may be printed or stickered). The law does not require schools to issue IDs.
- School website.
- Home screen of any electronic device issued to students.
- Any school agenda or calendar (digital or printed).
- Documents used during suicide awareness activities.
- Documents provided when a student registers to attend the school.
- Entities covered:
- Local school administrative units (via local boards of education).
- Boards of trustees for charter and laboratory schools.
- Regional schools and schools operating under various parts of Article 39 (including private church schools and religious charter schools in the committee substitute).
- The State Board of Community Colleges (a related provision directs adoption of a policy requiring community colleges to provide the Lifeline number).
- Statutory changes: Adds new subdivisions/sections to multiple education statutes (e.g., G.S. 115C-47, 115C-150.12C, 115C-218.75, 115C-238.66, 116-239.8(b), and new sections for private/religious and other school types).
Who is affected
- Primary: Local and state education governing bodies (boards) and all public K–12 schools, charter schools, regional/laboratory schools, private church schools, and community colleges — in the way they distribute and display crisis contact information.
- Secondary: Students (especially grades 6–12) and families who will have easier access to crisis hotline information; school administrative staff responsible for materials and device configuration.
- Fiscal/operational impact: Not detailed in the text; expected to be low to moderate (costs for updating materials, sticker/ID production, website or device home-screen updates). No criminal penalties or enforcement mechanisms specified in the text provided.
Notes and distinctions
- The committee substitute expanded the bill to include the NC Peer Warmline (855‑733‑7762) in addition to the federal Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 / text HOME to 741741).
- The bill standardizes placement and annual review of hotline information but does not mandate schools to issue student IDs.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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