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HB 890

Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, authorizes the comptroller of the treasury to provide required cost and income limit estimates for property tax relief to the general assembly by electronic means. - Amends TCA Title 48 and Title 67.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Chris Todd

Create the Emergency Internet Service Plan and dedicated fund to provide temporary internet for public schools during declared emergencies, funded with $3.93M nonrecurring.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 820
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Bill Summary · HB 890

Summary — HB 890: School Internet Emergency Access Act (North Carolina)

Status: Introduced/First Edition (2025). Sponsors: Rep. Ashton Greenfield (primary) and others. Effective date (if enacted): July 1, 2025; applies beginning with the 2025–2026 school year. The bill includes a nonrecurring appropriation of $3,927,380 for 2025–2026.

Main purpose

Require the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), working with the Department of Information Technology (DIT), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Emergency Management (DPS), to develop and maintain an Emergency Internet Service Plan (EISP) and to establish an Emergency Internet Service Fund to enable temporary internet service for public school units during a declared state of emergency.

Key provisions

  • Emergency Internet Service Plan (EISP)
    • DPI, in consultation with DIT, DOT, and DPS (Emergency Management), must develop and maintain the EISP.
    • The EISP must specify:
    • How many months of emergency internet service can be provided given funds available.
    • Conditions and activation criteria for invoking the EISP.
    • That public school units cannot be required to provide funds to initiate service under the EISP.
    • Equipment needs and assurance that each public school can access required equipment to activate emergency internet service.
    • Identification of necessary third‑party relationships (e.g., ISPs, vendors) and who maintains required accounts.
    • Measures to protect sensitive information and data.
  • Emergency Internet Service Fund
    • Established under the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s control.
    • Consists of monies appropriated by the General Assembly.
    • The fund is nonreverting (unexpended balances carry forward).
    • Allowed uses: purchase equipment and maintain contracts/accounts necessary to provide internet in an emergency.
  • Reporting
    • Annual report (no later than February 15 each year) to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee including:
    • Any changes to the EISP and a copy of the plan if changed.
    • An accounting of services provided since the last report.
    • Fund balance and expenditures from the Emergency Internet Service Fund.
    • Other relevant information the Superintendent chooses to include.

Fiscal & implementation particulars

  • The bill appropriates $3,927,380 in nonrecurring General Fund dollars for 2025–2026 to seed the Emergency Internet Service Fund.
  • The fund may be used for both equipment purchases and ongoing contract/account maintenance to ensure readiness.
  • Implementation will require interagency coordination, vendor agreements, equipment inventory and distribution plans, and cybersecurity/data protection measures.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: public school units (local school districts), students, and staff who need internet access during state-declared emergencies.
  • Responsible agencies: North Carolina DPI (lead), with DIT, DOT, and DPS (Emergency Management) participating.
  • Local school units are explicitly not required to provide initial funds to activate the EISP.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Positive: improves continuity of instruction and access to digital resources during emergencies (e.g., natural disasters, infrastructure outages).
  • Administrative/operational: DPI and partner agencies must develop logistics, contracts, and equipment plans; ongoing maintenance and contract costs may extend beyond the initial appropriation.
  • Security: plan must address protection of sensitive student and school data when emergency internet services are activated.

For readers tracking the bill: effective July 1, 2025 if enacted; applies to the 2025–2026 school year.

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

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