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HB 655

Pub. Rec. and Pub. Meetings/Attorney Meetings to Discuss Private Property Rights Claims

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jose Alvarez and 4 co-sponsors

The bill bans American Indian mascots in North Carolina public and charter schools, requiring schools to replace them within two years after notice and enforcing compliance with pe

Chapter No. 2026-142
#subjectindex #civilpracticeandprocedure #publicbusiness
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Bill Summary · HB 655

HB 655 — "Ending Offensive Indian Mascots" (North Carolina) — Bill Summary

Status: Passed First Reading (filed Apr 1, 2025). Effective when enacted; applies beginning with the 2025–2026 school year.

Purpose
- To prohibit the use of American Indian mascots by public schools and charter schools in North Carolina and to create a state-level process for identifying, notifying, and enforcing removal or replacement of such mascots.

Key provisions
- Annual reporting and definition (G.S. 115C‑210.4(2b))
- The State Advisory Council on Indian Education must include in its annual report (and presentation) a definition of what the Council finds to be an "American Indian mascot" and a list of all known public schools that use such mascots (identified school + the mascot).

  • State Board of Education role (G.S. 115C‑12(50))

    • Within 30 days after the Council’s presentation, the State Board must vote to concur or object with the Council’s determinations.
    • If the State Board concurs that a school uses an American Indian mascot, it must notify the school system’s governing body and superintendent and direct that the school change to a non‑American Indian mascot within two years.

  • Local superintendent authority and enforcement (G.S. 115C‑276(u))

    • The local superintendent must ensure no school in the unit uses an American Indian mascot.
    • After receiving notice from the State Board, the superintendent may allow one year for the local process to begin; if no action is taken in one year, the superintendent may select a new mascot for the school.
    • If a school still uses an American Indian mascot two years after notice, the Department of Public Instruction will review whether the superintendent willfully failed to comply. If the Department finds willful failure, state funds shall not be allocated to pay the superintendent’s salary until compliance is achieved and confirmed.

  • Charter school enforcement (G.S. 115C‑218.75(p))

    • Charter schools are expressly prohibited from having American Indian mascots and must change within two years of notice.
    • If a charter school does not comply, and the State Board finds willful failure, the Board will withhold a per‑pupil equivalent of the local superintendent’s salary for each student in membership (based on average daily membership) until compliance.

Who is affected
- All public K–12 schools in North Carolina (traditional public schools and charter schools).
- Local school administrative units, superintendents, local boards of education.
- State Advisory Council on Indian Education, State Board of Education, and Department of Public Instruction (administration and enforcement roles).
- Communities and schools that currently use American Indian mascots (will need to plan and implement changes).

Procedural/timeline highlights
- Council publishes definition and list as part of its annual report.
- State Board must act within 30 days of that presentation.
- Local units and charter schools have up to two years from official notice to change mascots; superintendents may be required to act after one year.
- Fiscal/administrative impacts: rebranding costs (logos, uniforms, signage, materials), administrative time to manage changes, and potential financial penalties (withholding of superintendent salary or per‑pupil funds) for sustained noncompliance.

Notes
- The bill delegates the substantive definition of "American Indian mascot" to the State Advisory Council on Indian Education rather than prescribing detailed statutory criteria; enforcement follows from the Council’s determinations and the State Board’s concurrence.

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

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