Universal Pre-K.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 32 co-sponsors

Allocates $13.3M/year in recurring funds to DHHS to create more NC Pre‑K slots, expanding access for eligible 4‑year‑olds starting July 1, 2025.

Passed 1st Reading

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Summary — HB 715 (Universal Pre‑K)

Status snapshot
- Title: Universal Pre‑K.
- Introduced (filed): November 12, 2024.
- Most recent recorded action: Read first time (House) on March 4, 2025; referred to State Affairs.
- Effective date (if enacted): July 1, 2025 (specified in the bill).

Purpose and intent
- To expand access to North Carolina’s Prekindergarten program (NC Pre‑K) by providing recurring state funding to create additional enrollment slots for eligible 4‑year‑old children.

Key provisions
- Appropriation: The bill appropriates $13,300,000 in recurring General Fund dollars for each year of the 2025–2027 fiscal biennium (i.e., $13.3 million per year) to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Child Development and Early Education.
- Use of funds: The funds are designated to provide additional NC Pre‑K slots so that more children seeking to participate in NC Pre‑K can be served.
- Effective date: The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Who is affected
- Primary beneficiaries: Eligible 4‑year‑old children and their families seeking enrollment in NC Pre‑K (increasing access to publicly funded prekindergarten services).
- State agencies: DHHS — Division of Child Development and Early Education — charged with administering and allocating the additional funds and slots.
- Providers: Early childhood education providers that participate in NC Pre‑K may see increased enrollment demand and will need capacity to serve added slots.
- Budget: State General Fund obligations increase by $13.3 million annually for the 2025–2027 biennium (recurring).

Potential impact and implementation notes
- Access: Expands the number of publicly funded pre‑K seats, helping eligible children access early learning and preparation for kindergarten.
- Fiscal: Commits recurring state funding ($13.3M/year) for at least the two‑year biennium beginning FY 2025–26; ongoing budgetary implications if funding continues beyond 2027.
- Operational: DHHS must distribute funds and coordinate slot allocations; provider capacity, staffing, and local administration may affect how many new children can be enrolled in practice.
- Timeline: With the statutory effective date of July 1, 2025, implementation and fund distribution would be expected to begin in the 2025–26 school/fiscal year following appropriation and agency planning.

Procedural history (selected)
- Filed: 11/12/2024.
- House first reading and referral to State Affairs: 03/04/2025.
- (Bill text includes the appropriation and effective date language as sections 1–2.)

For more detail
- The bill text sets the appropriation, identifies the receiving DHHS division, and states the effective date. For questions about eligibility rules, slot allocation methodology, or how funds will be distributed to local providers, consult the Division of Child Development and Early Education or subsequent implementing guidance once the appropriation is released.