North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H186 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 2
	3	+	H 1
4	4		HOUSE BILL 186
5		-	~~Committee Substitute Favorable 3/4/25~~
	5	+
6	6
7	7		Short Title: The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors:
9		-	Referred to:
	8	+	Sponsors: Representatives Biggs, Balkcom, N. Jackson, and Bell (Primary Sponsors).
	9	+	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
	10	+	Referred to: Education - K-12, if favorable, Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
	11	+	Operations of the House
10	12		February 26, 2025
11		-	H186 -v-2
	13	+	H186 -v-1
12	14		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
13	15		AN ACT TO SCHEDULE R ECITATION OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AT THE 2
14	16		BEGINNING OF THE SCH OOL DAY AND TO REQUI RE RECITATION OF THE 3
15	17		PLEDGE AT STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND GOVERNING BODY MEETIN GS. 4
16	18		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
17	19		6
18	20		PART I. REQUIRE PLED GE OF ALLEGIANCE TO BE SCHEDULED AT THE 7
19	21		BEGINNING OF THE SCH OOL DAY 8
20	22		SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 115C-47(29a) reads as rewritten: 9
21	23		"(29a) To Require the Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags, and to 10
22	24		Require the Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. – Local boards of 11
23	25		education shall adopt policies to (i) require the display of the United States 12
24	26		and North Carolina flags in each classroom, when available, (ii) require that 13
25		-	recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance be scheduled on a daily basis, Pledge of 14
26		-	Allegiance, as codified in 4 U.S.C. § 4, be scheduled on a daily basis within 15
27		-	one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide 16
28		-	age-appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag 17
29		-	and the Pledge of Allegiance. These policies shall not compel any person to 18
30		-	stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated 19
31		-	or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom." 20
32		-	SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 115C-150.12C(23), as enacted by S.L. 2023-10, reads as 21
33		-	rewritten: 22
34		-	"(23) The Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags and the Recitation 23
35		-	of the Pledge of Allegiance. – The board of trustees shall adopt policies to (i) 24
36		-	require the display of the United States and North Carolina flags in each 25
37		-	classroom when available, (ii) require that recitation of the Pledge of 26
38		-	Allegiance be scheduled on a daily basis, Pledge of Allegiance, as codified in 27
39		-	4 U.S.C. § 4, be scheduled on a daily basis within one hour of the beginning 28
40		-	of the instructional day, and (iii) provide age-appropriate instruction on the 29
41		-	meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. These 30
42		-	policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the 31
43		-	Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags 32
44		-	shall be displayed in each classroom." 33
45		-	SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 115C-218.80 reads as rewritten: 34
46		-	"§ 115C-218.80. Display of the United States and North Carolina flags and the recitation 35
47		-	of the Pledge of Allegiance. 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 186-Second Edition
	27	+	recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance be scheduled on a daily basis, basis 14
	28	+	within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide 15
	29	+	age-appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag 16
	30	+	and the Pledge of Allegiance. These policies shall not compel any person to 17
	31	+	stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated 18
	32	+	or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom." 19
	33	+	SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 115C-150.12C(23), as enacted by S.L. 2023-10, reads as 20
	34	+	rewritten: 21
	35	+	"(23) The Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags and the Recitation 22
	36	+	of the Pledge of Allegiance. – The board of trustees shall adopt policies to (i) 23
	37	+	require the display of the United States and North Carolina flags in each 24
	38	+	classroom when available, (ii) require that recitation of the Pledge of 25
	39	+	Allegiance be scheduled on a daily basis, daily basis within one hour of the 26
	40	+	beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide age-appropriate 27
	41	+	instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of 28
	42	+	Allegiance. These policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the 29
	43	+	flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise 30
	44	+	available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom." 31
	45	+	SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 115C-218.80 reads as rewritten: 32
	46	+	"§ 115C-218.80. Display of the United States and North Carolina flags and the recitation 33
	47	+	of the Pledge of Allegiance. 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	48	+	Page 2 House Bill 186-First Edition
49	49		A charter school shall (i) display the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom 1
50		-	when available, (ii) require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, ~~Pledge of~~ 2
51		-	~~Allegiance, as codified in 4 U.S.C. § 4, be scheduled on a daily basis~~ within one hour of the 3
52		-	~~beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide age-appropriate~~ instruction on the meaning 4
53		-	~~and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. A~~ charter school shall not compel 5
54		-	~~any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of~~ Allegiance. If flags are donated or are 6
55		-	~~otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each~~ classroom." 7
	50	+	when available, (ii) require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, daily basis 2
	51	+	within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide age-appropriate 3
	52	+	instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. A 4
	53	+	charter school shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of 5
	54	+	Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each 6
	55	+	classroom." 7
56	56		SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 115C-238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 8
57	57		"(23) Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. – A regional school shall schedule 9
58		-	recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, as codified in 4 U.S.C. § 4, on a daily 10
59		-	basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day. A regional 11
60		-	school shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the 12
61		-	Pledge of Allegiance." 13
62		-	SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 116-69.1 reads as rewritten: 14
63		-	"§ 116-69.1. Display of the United States and North Carolina flags and the recitation of the 15
64		-	Pledge of Allegiance. 16
65		-	The school shall (i) display the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom 17
66		-	when available, (ii) require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, Pledge of 18
67		-	Allegiance, as codified in 4 U.S.C. § 4, be scheduled on a daily basis within one hour of the 19
68		-	beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide instruction on the meaning and historical 20
69		-	origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. The school shall not compel any person to stand, 21
70		-	salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, 22
71		-	flags shall be displayed in each classroom." 23
72		-	SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 116-235(i) reads as rewritten: 24
73		-	"(i) The Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags and the Recitation of the 25
74		-	Pledge of Allegiance. – The Board of Trustees shall adopt policies to require (i) the display of 26
75		-	the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom when available, (ii) the recitation 27
76		-	of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, Pledge of Allegiance, as codified in 4 U.S.C. § 4, be 28
77		-	scheduled on a daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) the 29
78		-	instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. These 30
79		-	policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. 31
80		-	If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom." 32
81		-	SECTION 1.(g) G.S. 116-239.8(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 33
82		-	"(26) Display of the United States and North Carolina flags and the recitation of the 34
83		-	Pledge of Allegiance. – Laboratory schools shall schedule recitation of the 35
84		-	Pledge of Allegiance, as codified in 4 U.S.C. § 4, on a daily basis within one 36
85		-	hour of the beginning of the instructional day." 37
86		-	38
87		-	PART II. REQUIRE REC ITATION OF PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AT STATE 39
88		-	BOARD OF EDUCATION A ND GOVERNING BODY ME ETINGS 40
89		-	SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 115C-11 reads as rewritten: 41
90		-	"§ 115C-11. Organization and internal procedures of Board. 42
91		-	… 43
92		-	(b) Regular Meetings of Board. – The regular meetings of the Board shall be held each 44
93		-	month on a day certain, as determined by the Board. The Board shall determine the hour of the 45
94		-	meeting, which may be adjourned from day to day, or to a day certain, until the business before 46
95		-	the Board has been completed. 47
96		-	(b1) Annual meeting with the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of 48
97		-	Governors of The University of North Carolina. Carolina. – The State Board of Education shall 49
98		-	meet with the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of Governors of The University 50
99		-	of North Carolina at least once a year to discuss educational matters of mutual interest and to 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
100		-	House Bill 186-Second Edition Page 3
101		-	recommend to the General Assembly such policies as are appropriate to encourage the 1
102		-	improvement of public education at every level in this State. The meeting in 1987 and every three 2
103		-	years thereafter shall be hosted by the University Board of Governors, the meeting in 1988 and 3
104		-	every three years thereafter shall be hosted by the State Board of Education, and the meeting in 4
105		-	1989 and every three years thereafter shall be hosted by the State Board of Community Colleges. 5
106		-	(b2) Pledge of Allegiance. – Every regular and special meeting of the Board shall begin 6
107		-	with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, as codified in 4 U.S.C. § 4. This policy shall not 7
108		-	compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. 8
109		-	…." 9
110		-	SECTION 2.(b) Article 7B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 10
111		-	adding a new section to read: 11
112		-	"§ 115C-76.300. Pledge of Allegiance. 12
113		-	Every meeting of a governing body of a public school unit shall begin with recitation of the 13
114		-	Pledge of Allegiance, as codified in 4 U.S.C. § 4. This policy shall not compel any person to 14
115		-	stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance." 15
116		-	16
117		-	PART III. EFFECTIVE DATE 17
118		-	SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with 18
119		-	the 2025-2026 school year. 19
	58	+	recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis within one hour of the 10
	59	+	beginning of the instructional day. A regional school shall not compel any 11
	60	+	person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance." 12
	61	+	SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 116-69.1 reads as rewritten: 13
	62	+	"§ 116-69.1. Display of the United States and North Carolina flags and the recitation of the 14
	63	+	Pledge of Allegiance. 15
	64	+	The school shall (i) display the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom 16
	65	+	when available, (ii) require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, daily basis 17
	66	+	within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide instruction on the 18
	67	+	meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. The school shall not 19
	68	+	compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated 20
	69	+	or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom." 21
	70	+	SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 116-235(i) reads as rewritten: 22
	71	+	"(i) The Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags and the Recitation of the 23
	72	+	Pledge of Allegiance. – The Board of Trustees shall adopt policies to require (i) the display of 24
	73	+	the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom when available, (ii) the recitation 25
	74	+	of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the 26
	75	+	instructional day, and (iii) the instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and 27
	76	+	the Pledge of Allegiance. These policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or 28
	77	+	recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be 29
	78	+	displayed in each classroom." 30
	79	+	SECTION 1.(g) G.S. 116-239.8(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 31
	80	+	"(26) Display of the United States and North Carolina flags and the recitation of the 32
	81	+	Pledge of Allegiance. – Laboratory schools shall schedule recitation of the 33
	82	+	Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the 34
	83	+	instructional day." 35
	84	+	36
	85	+	PART II. REQUIRE REC ITATION OF PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AT STATE 37
	86	+	BOARD OF EDUCATION A ND GOVERNING BODY ME ETINGS 38
	87	+	SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 115C-11 reads as rewritten: 39
	88	+	"§ 115C-11. Organization and internal procedures of Board. 40
	89	+	… 41
	90	+	(b) Regular Meetings of Board. – The regular meetings of the Board shall be held each 42
	91	+	month on a day certain, as determined by the Board. The Board shall determine the hour of the 43
	92	+	meeting, which may be adjourned from day to day, or to a day certain, until the business before 44
	93	+	the Board has been completed. 45
	94	+	(b1) Annual meeting with the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of 46
	95	+	Governors of The University of North Carolina. Carolina. – The State Board of Education shall 47
	96	+	meet with the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of Governors of The University 48
	97	+	of North Carolina at least once a year to discuss educational matters of mutual interest and to 49
	98	+	recommend to the General Assembly such policies as are appropriate to encourage the 50
	99	+	improvement of public education at every level in this State. The meeting in 1987 and every three 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	100	+	House Bill 186-First Edition Page 3
	101	+	years thereafter shall be hosted by the University Board of Governors, the meeting in 1988 and 1
	102	+	every three years thereafter shall be hosted by the State Board of Education, and the meeting in 2
	103	+	1989 and every three years thereafter shall be hosted by the State Board of Community Colleges. 3
	104	+	(b2) Pledge of Allegiance. – Every regular and special meeting of the Board shall begin 4
	105	+	with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, in the manner provided by 4 U.S.C. § 4. This policy 5
	106	+	shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. 6
	107	+	…." 7
	108	+	SECTION 2.(b) Article 7B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 8
	109	+	adding a new Part to read: 9
	110	+	"Part 2. Duties of Governing Bodies of Public School Units. 10
	111	+	"§ 115C-76.10. Pledge of Allegiance. 11
	112	+	Every meeting of a governing body of a public school unit shall begin with recitation of the 12
	113	+	Pledge of Allegiance, in the manner provided by 4 U.S.C. § 4. This policy shall not compel any 13
	114	+	person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance." 14
	115	+	15
	116	+	PART III. EFFECTIVE DATE 16
	117	+	SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with 17
	118	+	the 2025-2026 school year. 18