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Bill

Bill

HB 1184

Voucher School Transparency Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 20 co-sponsors

HB 1184 requires public disclosure and reporting of voucher funds, participating schools, student outcomes, and program administration to boost transparency and accountability.

Passed 1st Reading
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1184

Summary of HB 1184 (Session 2025, North Carolina) — Voucher School Transparency Act

Purpose and Intent

HB 1184, titled the Voucher School Transparency Act, aims to increase transparency and accountability surrounding voucher programs in North Carolina. The bill seeks to provide clearer information to taxpayers, students, and families about voucher funds, participating schools, and program operations. The overarching goal is to improve visibility into how voucher dollars are allocated and used, and to enable oversight of program outcomes.

Key Provisions and Changes

Note: As the bill text is not provided here, this summary reflects typical elements found in voucher transparency legislation and the stated title. If the actual bill text contains deviations, please refer to the official bill language for precise details.

  • Disclosure of Voucher Recipient Information
    • Requires disclosure of entities receiving voucher funds and the number of students enrolled through vouchers.
    • May mandate annual reporting of voucher allocations by district, school, or program category.
  • Participation and Funding Details
    • Establishes criteria for which schools (including private, parochial, or other nonpublic schools) may participate in the voucher program.
    • Specifies funding streams, including per-student voucher amounts and total annual expenditures from state or local sources.
  • Financial Transparency
    • Requires itemized reporting of voucher expenditures, including administrative costs, program administration, and direct student support services.
    • May mandate public access to detailed financial reports, dashboards, or databases.
  • Performance and Outcomes Reporting
    • May require reporting on student outcomes associated with voucher use (e.g., academic results, graduation rates, or standardized test performance).
    • Could include comparison metrics to help assess voucher effectiveness.
  • Enrollment and Eligibility Oversight
    • Defines eligibility criteria for students receiving vouchers (e.g., grade levels, income limits, or prior public school attendance).
    • Establishes deadlines for application, renewal, and withdrawal from the voucher program.
  • Accountability and Audits
    • Creates or strengthens oversight mechanisms, including annual audits or compliance reviews of voucher programs and participating schools.
    • Includes remedies or sanctions for noncompliance with reporting requirements.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Students and Families who participate in or are considering voucher programs, as transparency measures would provide more information about program options and outcomes.
  • Participating Schools (including private and nonpublic schools accepting voucher students), subject to disclosure and reporting requirements.
  • Public School Districts that administer or interact with voucher programs, potentially needing to provide data and facilitate reporting.
  • State and Local Agencies responsible for budgeting, accountability, and auditing of voucher funds.
  • Taxpayers and the general public, who would gain greater visibility into how public funds are used in voucher programs.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Effective Date: The bill would specify when the transparency provisions take effect (e.g., upon enactment or a future effective date). If enacted in 2026, look for a phased or immediate applicability.
  • Reporting Deadlines: Annual reporting cycles, with specific due dates to align with fiscal year budgeting and data collection.
  • Public Access: Requirements for publishing reports on official state or agency websites, and possibly open data standards for machine-readable access.
  • Enforcement: Provisions outlining penalties, remedies, or corrective actions for failures to comply with new reporting and transparency duties.
  • Sunset or Review Clause: Possible sunset provisions or mandatory reviews to assess effectiveness and adjust reporting requirements.

Notes and Next Steps

  • The above summary reflects common elements found in voucher transparency bills. For precise provisions, including exact dollar figures, percentages, eligibility limits, and specific reporting formats, consult the full text of HB 1184 as filed and any fiscal notes or strike-all amendments.
  • Notable sponsors listed: Rodney Pierce, Tracy Clark, Cynthia Ball, and Phil Rubin (co-sponsors), with the bill filed on 2026-04-30.

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

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