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North Carolina House Bill H595

North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H595 Compare Versions

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11 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
22 SESSION 2025
3-H 1
4-HOUSE BILL 595
3+H D
4+HOUSE BILL DRH10256-NG-119
5+
56
67
78 Short Title: Parental Rights for Curriculum and Books. (Public)
8-Sponsors: Representatives Torbett and Blackwell (Primary Sponsors).
9-For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10-Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
11-April 1, 2025
12-*H595 -v-1*
9+Sponsors: Representative Torbett.
10+Referred to:
11+
12+*DRH10256 -NG-119*
1313 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
1414 AN ACT TO PROVIDE CHANGES TO THE STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY IN 2
1515 HEALTH EDUCATION, ENSURE AGE -APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION FOR 3
1616 STUDENTS, ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR SELECTION OF LIBRARY BOOKS AND 4
1717 HEALTH AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS, 5
1818 REQUIRE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL REPOSITORIES, AND RESTRICT ACCESS 6
1919 IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES FOR STUDENTS TO MATERIALS HARMFUL TO MINORS. 7
2020 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
2121 9
2222 PART I. STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY CHANGES 10
2323 SECTION 1.1. Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 11
2424 adding a new section to read: 12
2525 "§ 115C-81.16. Age-appropriate instruction for students. 13
2626 (a) Instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality shall not be included in the 14
2727 curriculum provided in grades kindergarten through sixth grade, regardless of whether the 15
2828 information is provided by school personnel or third parties. For the purposes of this section, 16
2929 curriculum includes the standard course of study and support materials, locally developed 17
3030 curriculum, supplemental instruction, and textbooks and other supplementary materials, but does 18
3131 not include verbal responses to student-initiated questions. Instruction provided in accordance 19
3232 with G.S. 115C-81.29 with parental consent does not violate this section. 20
3333 (b) A student in grades seven through 12 shall not participate in instruction on gender 21
3434 identity, sexual activity, or sexuality without the prior written consent of the student's parent or 22
3535 legal guardian. Each governing board of a public school unit shall adopt a policy and provide a 23
3636 mechanism to allow a parent or a legal guardian to consent to instruction required under this 24
3737 section on an annual basis." 25
3838 SECTION 1.2. G.S. 115C-81.25 reads as rewritten: 26
3939 "§ 115C-81.25. Health education. 27
4040 (a) Comprehensive health education instruction shall be developed and taught to students 28
4141 from kindergarten through ninth grade. 29
4242 (b) The State Board of Education shall do all of the following: 30
4343 (1) Supervise the development and operation of the statewide comprehensive 31
4444 school health education program, including curriculum development, teacher 32
4545 professional development, promotion of training in teacher preparation 33
4646 programs, learning material review, and assessment and evaluation of local 34
47-programs in the same manner as for other programs. 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48-Page 2 House Bill 595-First Edition
47+programs in the same manner as for other programs. 35
48+H.B. 595
49+Mar 31, 2025
50+HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
51+Page 2 DRH10256-NG-119
4952 (2) Adopt objectives for the instruction of the subject areas listed in this section 1
5053 that are appropriate for each grade level. 2
5154 (3) Approve textbooks and other materials incorporating these objectives that 3
5255 local school administrative units may purchase with State funds. 4
5356 (c) The State Board of Education, through the Department of Public Instruction, shall, on 5
5457 a regular basis, review materials related to these objectives and distribute these reviews to local 6
5558 school administrative units for their information. This program includes age-appropriate 7
5659 instruction in the following subject areas, regardless of whether this instruction is described as, 8
5760 or incorporated into a description of, "family life education," "family health education," "health 9
5861 education," "family living," "health," "healthful living curriculum," or "self-esteem": 10
5962 (1) Mental and emotional health. 11
6063 (2) Drug and alcohol abuse prevention. 12
6164 (3) Nutrition. 13
6265 (4) Dental health. 14
6366 (5) Environmental health. 15
6467 (6) Family living. 16
6568 (7) Consumer health. 17
6669 (8) Disease control. 18
6770 (9) Growth and development.development, consistent with the requirements of 19
6871 G.S. 115C-81.29. 20
6972 (10) First aid and emergency care, including the teaching of cardiopulmonary 21
7073 resuscitation (CPR) and the Heimlich maneuver by using hands-on training 22
7174 with mannequins so that students pass a test approved by the American Heart 23
7275 Association or American Red Cross. For the purposes of this subdivision, 24
7376 schools shall do all of the following: 25
7477 a. Use an instructional program developed by the American Heart 26
7578 Association, the American Red Cross, or other nationally recognized 27
7679 programs that is based on the most current national evidence-based 28
7780 emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for CPR. 29
7881 b. Maintain documentation in an electronic database that students have 30
7982 successfully completed CPR instruction to meet healthful living 31
8083 essential standards. 32
8184 c. Require successful completion of instruction in CPR to be a 33
8285 requirement for high school graduation by the 2014-2015 school year. 34
8386 (11) Preventing sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and other 35
8487 communicable diseases. As used in this section, "HIV/AIDS" means Human 36
8588 Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 37
8689 (12) Reproductive health and safety education. 38
8790 (13) Bicycle safety. 39
8891 (d) Parental Review. – The State Board of Education shall make available to all local 40
8992 school administrative units for review by the parents and legal guardians of students enrolled at 41
9093 those units any State-developed objectives for instruction, any approved textbooks, the list of 42
9194 reviewed materials, and any other State-developed or approved materials that pertain to or are 43
9295 intended to impart information or promote discussion or understanding in regard to the 44
9396 prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, to the avoidance of 45
9497 out-of-wedlock pregnancy, or to the reproductive health and safety education curriculum. The 46
9598 review period shall extend for at least 60 days before use. 47
9699 (e) Duty of Local School Administrative Units. – Each local school administrative unit 48
97100 shall provide a comprehensive school health education program that meets all the requirements 49
98101 of this section and all the objectives established by the State Board. Each local board of education 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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100103 may expand on the subject areas to be included in the program and on the instructional objectives 1
101104 to be met." 2
102105 SECTION 1.3. Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 3
103106 adding a new section to read: 4
104107 "§ 115C-81.29. Human growth and development for elementary school students. 5
105108 (a) Each public school unit shall provide a human growth and development program in 6
106109 grades four and five. Materials used in this instruction shall be age-appropriate for use with 7
107110 students and shall not include information on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality. 8
108111 Information conveyed during the instruction shall be objective and based upon scientific research 9
109112 that is peer-reviewed and accepted by professionals and credentialed experts in any of the 10
110113 following fields: medicine, human anatomy, biology, or health education. A human growth and 11
111114 development program provided by the public school unit shall do the following: 12
112115 (1) Fourth grade. – Students in fourth grade shall be instructed in single-sex 13
113116 student groups as follows: 14
114117 a. Summarize biological changes during puberty. 15
115118 b. Recognize that individuals experience puberty at different rates. 16
116119 (2) Fifth grade. – Students in fifth grade shall be instructed in single-sex student 17
117120 groups as follows: 18
118121 a. Recall that puberty is characterized by the development of secondary 19
119122 sex characteristics and onset of reproductive capacity. 20
120123 b. Differentiate between accurate and inaccurate sources of information 21
121124 about puberty and development. 22
122125 c. Summarize the functions of the male and female reproductive systems. 23
123126 d. Illustrate how societal influences can impact reproductive health 24
124127 behavioral choices and consequences. 25
125128 e. Summarize normal weight gain and body changes during puberty. 26
126129 (b) Each governing body of a public school unit shall adopt a policy and provide a 27
127130 mechanism to allow a parent or a legal guardian to consent to instruction required under this 28
128131 section on an annual basis. A student shall not participate in instruction required under this 29
129132 section without the prior written consent of the student's parent or legal guardian. 30
130133 (c) In implementing this section, a governing body of a public school unit shall not 31
131134 expand beyond the subject areas provided in this section." 32
132135 SECTION 1.4. G.S. 115C-81.30 reads as rewritten: 33
133136 "§ 115C-81.30. Reproductive health and safety education provided by local public school 34
134137 administrative units. 35
135138 (a) Reproductive health and safety education shall not be provided prior to seventh grade. 36
136139 Each local public school administrative unit shall provide a reproductive health and safety 37
137140 education program commencing in the seventh grade. Materials used in this instruction shall be 38
138141 age-appropriate for use with students. Law enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies, and 39
139142 nongovernmental organizations with experience in sex-trafficking prevention and awareness may 40
140143 provide materials and information. Information conveyed during the instruction shall be 41
141144 objective and based upon scientific research that is peer reviewed and accepted by professionals 42
142145 and credentialed experts in any of the following fields: sexual health education, adolescent 43
143146 psychology, behavioral counseling, medicine, human anatomy, biology, ethics, or health 44
144147 education. Reproductive health and safety instruction provided by the local public school 45
145148 administrative units shall do the following: 46
146149 (1) Teach that abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected 47
147150 standard for all school-age children. 48
148151 (2) Present techniques and strategies to deal with peer pressure and offering 49
149152 positive reinforcement. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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151154 (3) Present reasons, skills, and strategies for remaining or becoming abstinent 1
152155 from sexual activity. 2
153156 (4) Teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain means of 3
154157 avoiding out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases when 4
155158 transmitted through sexual contact, including HIV/AIDS, and other associated 5
156159 health and emotional problems. As used in this section, "HIV/AIDS" means 6
157160 Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 7
158161 (5) Teach that a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the 8
159162 context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding sexually transmitted 9
160163 diseases, including HIV/AIDS. 10
161164 (6) Teach the positive benefits of abstinence until marriage and the risks of 11
162165 premarital sexual activity. 12
163166 (7) Provide opportunities that allow for interaction between the parent or legal 13
164167 guardian and the student. 14
165168 (8) Provide factually accurate biological or pathological information that is 15
166169 related to the human reproductive system. 16
167170 (9) Teach about the preventable risks for preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies, 17
168171 including induced abortion, smoking, alcohol consumption, the use of illegal 18
169172 drugs, and inadequate prenatal care. 19
170173 (10) Teach about sexually transmitted diseases. Instruction shall include how 20
171174 sexually transmitted diseases are and are not transmitted, the effectiveness and 21
172175 safety of all federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved methods 22
173176 of reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and 23
174177 information on local resources for testing and medical care for sexually 24
175178 transmitted diseases. Instruction shall include the rates of infection among 25
176179 pre-teen and teens of each known sexually transmitted disease and the effects 26
177180 of contracting each sexually transmitted disease. In particular, the instruction 27
178181 shall include information about the effects of contracting the Human 28
179182 Papilloma Virus, including sterility and cervical cancer. 29
180183 (11) Teach about the effectiveness and safety of all FDA-approved contraceptive 30
181184 methods in preventing pregnancy. 31
182185 (12) Teach awareness of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and risk reduction. The 32
183186 instruction and materials shall: 33
184187 a. Focus on healthy relationships. 34
185188 b. Teach students what constitutes sexual assault and sexual abuse, the 35
186189 causes of those behaviors, and risk reduction. 36
187190 c. Inform students about resources and reporting procedures if they 37
188191 experience sexual assault or sexual abuse. 38
189192 d. Examine common misconceptions and stereotypes about sexual 39
190193 assault and sexual abuse. 40
191194 (13) Teach about sex trafficking prevention and awareness. Each local public 41
192195 school administrative unit shall: 42
193196 a. Collaborate with a diverse group of outside consultants where 43
194197 practical, including law enforcement with expertise in sex-trafficking 44
195198 prevention education, to address the threats of sex trafficking. 45
196199 b. Collaborate with a diverse group of outside consultants, including law 46
197200 enforcement with expertise in sex trafficking, on a referral protocol for 47
198201 high-risk pupils and minors. 48
199202 (b) Each local board of education governing body of a public school unit shall adopt a 49
200203 policy and provide a mechanism to allow a parent or a legal guardian to withdraw his or her child 50
201204 from consent annually to instruction required under subdivisions (10) through (13) of subsection 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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203206 (a) of this section. A student shall not participate in instruction required under subdivisions (10) 1
204207 through (13) of subsection (a) of this section without the prior written consent of the student's 2
205208 parent or legal guardian. 3
206209 (c) Parental Review and Consent. – Each school year, before students may participate in 4
207210 any portion of (i) a program that pertains to or is intended to impart information or promote 5
208211 discussion or understanding in regard to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, 6
209212 including HIV/AIDS, or to the avoidance of out-of-wedlock pregnancy or (ii) a reproductive 7
210213 health and safety education program, whether developed by the State or by the local board of 8
211214 education, governing body of the public school unit, the parents and legal guardians of those 9
212215 students shall be given an opportunity to review the objectives and materials as provided in 10
213216 G.S. 115C-81.25(d). Local boards of education Governing bodies of public school units shall 11
214217 adopt policies to provide opportunities either for parents and legal guardians to consent or for 12
215218 parents and legal guardians to withhold their consent annually to the students' participation in 13
216219 any or all of these programs. A student shall not participate in any program referenced in this 14
217220 section without the prior written consent of the student's parent or legal guardian. 15
218221 (d) Information on Contraceptives and Abortion Referral Services. – Students may 16
219222 receive information about where to obtain contraceptives and abortion referral services only in 17
220223 accordance with a local board's policy regarding with written parental consent. Any instruction 18
221224 concerning the use of contraceptives or prophylactics shall provide accurate statistical 19
222225 information on their effectiveness and failure rates for preventing pregnancy and sexually 20
223226 transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, in actual use among adolescent populations and shall 21
224227 explain clearly the difference between risk reduction and risk elimination through abstinence. 22
225228 The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide the most current available 23
226229 information at the beginning of each school year. 24
227230 (e) Prohibition on Distribution of Contraceptives. – Contraceptives, including condoms 25
228231 and other devices, shall not be made available or distributed on school property. 26
229232 (f) School Health Coordinators. – School health coordinators may be employed to assist 27
230233 in the instruction of any portion of the comprehensive school health education program. Where 28
231234 feasible, a school health coordinator should serve more than one local school administrative unit. 29
232235 Each person initially employed as a State-funded school health coordinator after June 30, 1987, 30
233236 shall have a degree in health education. 31
234237 (g) Duty of Local Public School Administrative Units. – Each local public school 32
235238 administrative unit shall provide a comprehensive school health education program that meets 33
236239 all the requirements of this section and all the objectives established by the State Board. Each 34
237240 local board of education may expand on the subject areas to be included in the program and on 35
238241 the instructional objectives to be met." 36
239242 SECTION 1.5. In adopting new or revised K-12 Healthful Living standards, the 37
240243 State Board of Education shall incorporate the requirements of G.S. 115C-98.1, as enacted by 38
241244 this act, in the Standard Course of Study, and shall not add any additional standards for the human 39
242245 growth and development program in grades four and five or for the reproductive health and safety 40
243246 education program commencing in seventh grade. 41
244247 42
245248 PART II. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 43
246249 SECTION 2.1. G.S. 115C-85 reads as rewritten: 44
247250 "§ 115C-85. Textbook needs are determined by course of study. 45
248251 (a) When the State Board of Education has adopted, upon the recommendation of the 46
249252 Superintendent of Public Instruction, a standard course of study at each instructional level in the 47
250253 elementary school and the secondary school, setting forth what subjects shall be taught at each 48
251254 level, it shall proceed to select and adopt textbooks. 49
252255 (b) As used in this part, "textbook" Part, the following definitions apply: 50
253256 (1) – (3) Reserved for future codification purposes. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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255258 (4) Health and safety program means any instruction, curricula, or materials 1
256259 intended to impart information or promote discussion or understanding 2
257260 regarding any of the following, including instruction, curricula, or materials 3
258261 implemented to comply with any federal law, regulation, or guidance: 4
259262 a. Reproductive health and safety, as provided in G.S. 115C-81.30. 5
260263 b. Mental and emotional health, as provided in G.S. 115C-81.25(c)(1). 6
261264 c. Growth and development, as provided in G.S. 115C-81.25(c)(9) and 7
262265 G.S. 115C-81.29. 8
263266 d. Anti-bullying or anti-harassment. 9
264267 (5) – (7) Reserved for future codification purposes. 10
265268 (8) Textbook means systematically organized material comprehensive enough to 11
266269 cover the primary objectives outlined in the standard course of study for a 12
267270 grade or course. Formats for textbooks may be print or nonprint, including 13
268271 hardbound books, softbound books, activity-oriented programs, classroom 14
269272 kits, and technology-based programs that require the use of electronic 15
270273 equipment in order to be used in the learning process. 16
271274 (c) Textbooks adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Part shall be used by the 17
272275 public schools of the State except as provided in G.S. 115C-98(b1)." 18
273276 SECTION 2.2. G.S. 115C-98 reads as rewritten: 19
274277 "§ 115C-98. Local boards of education Public school units to provide for local operation of 20
275278 the textbook program, the selection and procurement of other instructional 21
276279 materials, and the use of nonadopted textbooks. 22
277280 (a) Local boards of education Governing bodies of public school units shall adopt rules 23
278281 not inconsistent with the policies of the State Board of Education concerning the local operation 24
279282 of the textbook program. 25
280283 (b) Local boards of education Governing bodies shall adopt written policies concerning 26
281284 the procedures to be followed in their local school administrative units for the selection and 27
282285 procurement of supplementary textbooks, library books, periodicals, audiovisual materials, and 28
283286 other supplementary instructional materials needed for instructional purposes in the public 29
284287 schools of their units.units, consistent with the requirements of G.S. 115C-98.1. Public school 30
285288 units shall adopt library materials as provided in G.S. 115C-98.2. 31
286289 Local boards of education Governing bodies shall have sole authority to select and procure 32
287290 supplementary instructional materials, whether or not the materials contain commercial 33
288291 advertising, to determine if the materials are related to and within the limits of the prescribed 34
289292 curriculum, and to determine when the materials may be presented to students during the school 35
290293 day. Supplementary materials and contracts for supplementary materials are not subject to 36
291294 approval by the State Board of Education. 37
292295 Supplementary books and other instructional materials shall neither displace nor be used to 38
293296 the exclusion of basic textbooks. 39
294297 (b1) A local board of education may governing body shall establish a community media 40
295298 advisory committee to investigate and evaluate challenges from parents, teachers, and members 41
296299 of the public to textbooks and supplementary instructional materials on the grounds that they are 42
297300 educationally unsuitable, pervasively vulgar, or inappropriate to the age, maturity, or grade level 43
298301 of the students. The State Board of Education shall review its rules and policies concerning these 44
299302 challenges and shall establish guidelines to be followed by community media advisory 45
300303 committees. 46
301304 The local board, governing body, at all times, has sole authority and discretion to determine 47
302305 whether a challenge has merit and whether challenged material should be retained or removed. 48
303306 (b2) Local boards of education Governing bodies may: 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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305308 (1) Select, procure, and use textbooks that have not been adopted by the State 1
306309 Board of Education for use throughout the local school administrative public 2
307310 school unit for selected grade levels and courses; and 3
308311 (2) Approve school improvement plans developed under G.S. 115C-105.27 that 4
309312 include provisions for using textbooks that have not been adopted by the State 5
310313 Board of Education for selected grade levels and courses. 6
311314 All textbook contracts made under this subsection shall include a clause granting to the local 7
312315 board of education governing body the license to produce braille, large print, and audiocassette 8
313316 tape copies of the textbooks for use in the local school administrative unit.public school unit. 9
314317 (c) Funds allocated by the State Board of Education or appropriated in the current 10
315318 expense or capital outlay budgets of the local school administrative units, public school units, 11
316319 may be used for the above-stated purposes." 12
317320 SECTION 2.3. Part 3 of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 13
318321 amended by adding a new section to read: 14
319322 "§ 115C-98.1. Selection of health and safety instructional and supplemental materials. 15
320323 (a) When adopting, modifying, or amending a health and safety program and the 16
321324 instructional and supplemental materials for that program, a governing body of a public school 17
322325 unit shall conduct a public hearing after adequately notifying the public at least 10 days prior to 18
323326 the hearing. 19
324327 (b) The governing body of a public school unit shall also provide both electronic and 20
325328 written notice to all parents of students in the public school unit of the public hearing and the 21
326329 opportunity to review those materials in the program repository, as provided in G.S. 115C-102.1, 22
327330 at least 60 days before the public hearing occurs. 23
328331 (c) The notice to parents provided for in subsection (b) of this section shall include the 24
329332 following in both written and electronic form: 25
330333 (1) A detailed description of the program's objectives and any proposed changes, 26
331334 including any topics that the local board of education determines that a 27
332335 reasonable parent in that community may wish to examine as to the age 28
333336 appropriateness of the topics. 29
334337 (2) All written and audio materials that will be used. 30
335338 (3) A link to, or information on how to access, the program repository on the local 31
336339 school administrative unit's website, as provided in G.S. 115C-102.1." 32
337340 SECTION 2.4. Part 3 of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 33
338341 amended by adding a new section to read: 34
339342 "§ 115C-98.2. Library books. 35
340343 (a) For the purposes of this Part, the term library books means electronic, print, and 36
341344 nonprint resources, excluding textbooks, for independent use by students and school personnel 37
342345 outside of the standard course of study for any grade or course. Library books may be held in a 38
343346 formal school library or in a classroom. 39
344347 (b) Governing bodies of public school units shall establish criteria for selection of library 40
345348 books, including a recommendation review process, and shall select and procure library books 41
346349 based on recommendations from the superintendent in accordance with this section. Selection of 42
347350 materials shall be an ongoing process that includes the removal of collections determined to no 43
348351 longer meet the criteria for selection and the periodic replacement or repair of materials still of 44
349352 educational value. 45
350353 (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the governing body may delegate the 46
351354 authority for selection of library books to the superintendent subject to the following: 47
352355 (1) Any library book that has received more than 10 letters of objection which 48
353356 state with specificity the criteria the library book fails to meet as part of the 49
354357 recommendation review process shall not be selected without approval of the 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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356359 governing body, who shall review the submitted objections at a public meeting 1
357360 prior to a vote on selection. 2
358361 (2) The superintendent shall provide a list of all library books recommended for 3
359362 selection to the governing body for a minimum of 30 days of review that 4
360363 includes at least one meeting of the governing body prior to final selection. If 5
361364 any governing body member questions or desires further information on any 6
362365 title or author, the member shall contact the superintendent to request the 7
363366 information. Any governing body member may make a motion at the meeting 8
364367 of the governing body held prior to final selection to place a recommended 9
365368 book before the body for approval. 10
366369 (d) At a minimum, the criteria for selection shall require that a library book meet the 11
367370 following standards: 12
368371 (1) Supports and enriches students' personal learning and the standard course of 13
369372 study for grades and courses offered at that school. 14
370373 (2) Meets high standards in literary, artistic, and aesthetic quality, as well as 15
371374 technical aspects and physical format. 16
372375 (3) Is appropriate for the subject area and for the age, intellectual development, 17
373376 and ability level of the students for whom the materials are selected and 18
374377 received access level designation. 19
375378 (4) For nonfiction resources, incorporates accurate and authentic factual content 20
376379 from authoritative sources. 21
377380 (5) Balances financial cost with need. 22
378381 (6) Meets the requirements of subsections (f) and (g) of this section. 23
379382 (7) For fiction, narrative nonfiction, including memoirs and biographies, and 24
380383 graphic novels, in addition to the other requirements of this subsection, a 25
381384 determination that that library book is: 26
382385 a. Integral to the instructional program. 27
383386 b. Reflects the learning needs of the students and school personnel. 28
384387 c. Is appropriate for the reading levels and understanding of students. 29
385388 d. Is included because of the library book's literary or artistic value. 30
386389 e. If narrative nonfiction, presents information with accuracy and clarity. 31
387390 (e) The governing body shall establish a recommendation review process that includes 32
388391 the following: 33
389392 (1) The superintendent may delegate the responsibility to identify the library 34
390393 books recommended for selection to appropriate public school unit personnel. 35
391394 (2) As part of the recommendation for any library book, a content access 36
392395 designation shall be assigned to the book that reflects the grade levels for 37
393396 which the book is appropriate based on the age and intellectual development 38
394397 of the students. A school shall not provide access to students to books with a 39
395398 content access designation higher than the grade level of students enrolled in 40
396399 that school. There shall be three content access designations as follows: 41
397400 a. Elementary: Library books for students in grades kindergarten through 42
398401 fifth grade. 43
399402 b. Middle School: Library books for students in grades sixth through 44
400403 eighth. 45
401404 c. High School: Library books for students in grades ninth through 46
402405 twelfth. 47
403406 (3) To ensure parental engagement, all library books recommended for selection 48
404407 shall be readily available for parental review a minimum of 30 days prior to 49
405408 consideration for selection by posting a list of the recommended books in a 50
406409 publicly accessible portion of the public school unit's website, and by 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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408411 including a copy of all recommended library books in the instructional 1
409412 materials repository established by G.S. 115C-102.1 for in-person review. 2
410413 The list shall also provide the process for submitting an objection to selection 3
411414 of the book, including a means for identifying with specificity the criteria that 4
412415 the recommended book fails to meet. 5
413416 (f) All library books should contain material appropriate for students and should reflect 6
414417 the age and grade levels of students enrolled in the school. No library book shall be used if the 7
415418 book contains material that is harmful to minors, as defined in G.S. 14-190.13. 8
416419 (g) Local boards of education shall require, as part of the criteria, compliance with the 9
417420 Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), 47 U.S.C. § 254(h)(5), including technology 10
418421 protection measures. 11
419422 (h) In addition to the selection process, all governing bodies shall establish a community 12
420423 library advisory committee to investigate and evaluate challenges from parents, teachers, and 13
421424 members of the public to library books on the grounds that they do not conform to the criteria for 14
422425 selection of library books. The State Board of Education shall review its rules and policies 15
423426 concerning these challenges and shall establish guidelines to be followed by community library 16
424427 advisory committees. 17
425428 (i) Prior to any school conducting or partnering with a third party to conduct a student 18
426429 book fair, the principal of that school shall designate appropriate school personnel to review all 19
427430 books that will be made available to students at the book fair to determine if the books meet the 20
428431 criteria established under subsection (d) of this section and meet the content access designation, 21
429432 as established under subsection (e) of this section, for the school. The principal shall ensure that 22
430433 no books shall be accepted by the school or made available to students in the student book fair 23
431434 that do not meet the established criteria and content access designation of that school." 24
432435 SECTION 2.5. Part 3 of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 25
433436 amended by adding a new section to read: 26
434437 "§ 115C-102.1. Instructional materials repository. 27
435438 (a) A governing body of a public school unit shall maintain a continuous repository of 28
436439 current instructional and supplemental materials that have been selected and acquired by the 29
437440 governing body of a public school unit pursuant to this Article. The materials shall be maintained 30
438441 at a central location for in-person review by parents and the public upon request, and the names 31
439442 of all those materials shall be posted to the local school administrative unit's website for review 32
440443 by parents and the public. 33
441444 (b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, a governing body of 34
442445 a public school unit shall also maintain a continuous program repository of current objectives, 35
443446 entire curricula, texts, and all other materials used in any health and safety program as follows: 36
444447 (1) The current objectives, entire curricula, texts, and all other materials used in 37
445448 any health and safety program shall be maintained at a central location for 38
446449 in-person review by parents and the public upon request. 39
447450 (2) Electronic copies of the current objectives and names of curricula, texts, or 40
448451 any other materials used in any health and safety program shall be posted to 41
449452 the local school administrative unit's website for review by parents and the 42
450453 public. The website shall also include the curricula, texts, and any other 43
451454 materials used in the health and safety program, including links to any 44
452455 materials available on the publisher's website. 45
453456 (3) The governing body of a public school unit shall add to the central location 46
454457 and electronic repository any objectives, curricula, texts, and other materials 47
455458 that may be proposed for adoption, amendment, or modification to the health 48
456459 and safety program and shall clearly indicate that status while the materials 49
457460 are under consideration. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
458-Page 10 House Bill 595-First Edition
461+Page 10 DRH10256-NG-119
459462 (c) Each school year, at least 14 days before students participate in a health and safety 1
460463 program, a governing body of a public school unit shall give both written and electronic notice 2
461464 to parents of students participating in that program of the right of parents to review the objectives, 3
462465 complete materials, and entire curriculum of that program in the program repository maintained 4
463466 by the governing body of a public school unit, as provided in subsection (b) of this section. The 5
464467 notice shall include the same information provided under G.S. 115C-98.1. The notice shall be in 6
465468 conjunction and combination with the notice and requirements to inform parents of the 7
466469 requirement for prior written consent to participate in certain health and safety programs, as 8
467470 established in G.S. 115C-81.29 and G.S. 115C-81.30." 9
468471 10
469472 PART III. CLARIFY DEFENSES FOR MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS 11
470473 SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 14-190.15 reads as rewritten: 12
471474 "§ 14-190.15. Disseminating harmful material to minors; exhibiting harmful performances 13
472475 to minors. 14
473476 (a) Disseminating Harmful Material. – A person commits the offense of disseminating 15
474477 harmful material to minors if, with or without consideration and knowing the character or content 16
475478 of the material, he:the person does any of the following: 17
476479 (1) Sells, furnishes, presents, or distributes to a minor material that is harmful to 18
477480 minors; orminors. 19
478481 (2) Allows a minor to review or peruse material that is harmful to minors. 20
479482 (b) Exhibiting Harmful Performance. – A person commits the offense of exhibiting a 21
480483 harmful performance to a minor if, with or without consideration and knowing the character or 22
481484 content of the performance, he the person allows a minor to view a live performance that is 23
482485 harmful to minors. 24
483486 (c) Defenses. – Except as provided in subdivision (3), a mistake of age is not a defense 25
484487 to a prosecution under this section. It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section 26
485488 that: 27
486489 (1) The defendant was a parent or legal guardian of the minor. 28
487490 (2) The defendant was a school, church, museum, public library, governmental 29
488491 agency, medical clinic, or hospital carrying out its legitimate function; or an 30
489492 employee or agent of such an organization acting in that capacity and carrying 31
490493 out a legitimate duty of his employment. 32
491494 (3) Before disseminating or exhibiting the harmful material or performance, the 33
492495 defendant requested and received a driver's license, student identification 34
493496 card, or other official governmental or educational identification card or paper 35
494497 indicating that the minor to whom the material or performance was 36
495498 disseminated or exhibited was at least 18 years old, and the defendant 37
496499 reasonably believed the minor was at least 18 years old. 38
497500 (4) The dissemination was made with the prior consent of a parent or guardian of 39
498501 the recipient. 40
499502 (d) Punishment. – Violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor." 41
500503 SECTION 3.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 42
501504 offenses committed on or after that date. 43
502505 44
503506 PART IV. PUBLIC LIBRARY ACCESS FOR MINORS 45
504507 SECTION 4.(a) G.S. 125-19 read as rewritten: 46
505508 "§ 125-19. Confidentiality of library user records. 47
506509 (a) Disclosure. – A library shall not disclose any library record that identifies a person as 48
507510 having requested or obtained specific materials, information, or services, or as otherwise having 49
508511 used the library, except as provided for in subsection (b). 50
509512 (b) Exceptions. – Library records may be disclosed in the following instances: 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
510-House Bill 595-First Edition Page 11
513+DRH10256-NG-119 Page 11
511514 (1) When necessary for the reasonable operation of the library;library. 1
512515 (2) Upon written consent of the user; oruser. 2
513516 (3) Pursuant to subpoena, court order, or where otherwise required by law. 3
514517 (4) To the parent of a minor for library records of that minor." 4
515518 SECTION 4.(b) Chapter 125 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 5
516519 Article to read: 6
517520 "Article 4. 7
518521 "Access for Minors. 8
519522 "§ 125-25. Definitions. 9
520523 The following definitions shall apply in this Article: 10
521524 (1) Library. – A library established by the State; a county, city, township, village, 11
522525 or other local unit of government or authority or combination of local units of 12
523526 governments and authorities. 13
524527 (2) Library book. – Any electronic, print, or nonprint resources held for use, 14
525528 reference, or circulation to the public by a library. 15
526529 (3) Harmful to minors. – As defined in G.S. 14-190.13. 16
527530 (4) Minor. – A person less than 18 years of age who has not been emancipated 17
528531 pursuant to Article 35 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes. 18
529532 (5) Parent. – A person who has legal custody of a child, including a natural parent, 19
530533 adoptive parent, or legal guardian. 20
531534 "§ 125-26. Access of materials to minors. 21
532535 (a) A library shall ensure that any library books containing material harmful to minors 22
533536 held by the library are inaccessible to minors in both print, nonprint, and electronic form. The 23
534537 library shall place library books containing material harmful to minors in an age-restricted 24
535538 portion of the library that is accessible only to those 18 years of age and older. 25
536539 (b) A library shall lend books to minors only with the prior written consent of the minor's 26
537540 parent. Prior written consent may be demonstrated by a parent providing written consent for a 27
538541 minor to receive a library card. A library card issued to a minor shall be denoted as such and shall 28
539542 restrict the minor from accessing material harmful to minors held by the library, whether in print, 29
540543 nonprint, or electronic form. 30
541544 (c) A parent shall be authorized to access the library records of that parent's minor child 31
542545 as provided in G.S. 125-19." 32
543546 SECTION 4.(c) This section is effective July 1, 2025. For library cards issued to 33
544547 minors without written parental consent prior to the effective date of this section, a library shall 34
545548 either establish written consent from the parent prior to December 31, 2025, or shall revoke the 35
546549 library card of the minor after that date. 36
547550 37
548551 PART V. EFFECTIVE DATE 38
549552 SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 39
550553 law. Parts I and II of this act apply beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. 40