North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina Senate Bill S449 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	S 2
	3	+	S 1
4	4		SENATE BILL 449
5		-	~~Education/Higher Education Committee Substitute Adopted 4/9/25~~
	5	+
6	6
7	7		Short Title: Fiscal Responsibility and K-20 Tech Planning. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors:
9		-	Referred to:
	8	+	Sponsors: Senators Lee, Corbin, and Overcash (Primary Sponsors).
	9	+	Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
10	10		March 25, 2025
11		-	S449 -v-2
	11	+	S449 -v-1
12	12		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
13	13		AN ACT TO REQUIRE AL L PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CO MMUNITY COLLEGES, AN D 2
14	14		CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO 3
15		-	~~EVALUATE CERTAIN CON SIDERATIONS~~ ON ~~TECHN OLOGY~~ COSTS AND TO 4
16		-	~~REQUIRE PUBLIC~~ SCHOOLS TO REPORT ON BREAK/FIX RATE. 5
	15	+	REQUIRE MINIMUM CONS IDERATIONS ON TECHNO LOGY COSTS AND PUBLIC 4
	16	+	SCHOOLS TO REPORT ON BREAK/FIX RATE. 5
17	17		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
18		-	SECTION 1.(a) Part 3A of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 7
19		-	amended by adding the following new sections to read: 8
20		-	"§ 115C-102.10. Technology costs considerations. 9
21		-	The State Board of Education shall adopt rules requiring all public school units to evaluate 10
22		-	the following when acquiring technology, computer hardware, and software: 11
23		-	(1) The long-term cost of ownership, including costs of repairing the technology, 12
24		-	computer hardware, or software. 13
25		-	(2) Any flexibility for innovation during the life of the technology, computer 14
26		-	hardware, or software. 15
27		-	(3) Any anticipated resale or salvage value at the end of the target life cycle for 16
28		-	the technology, computer hardware, or software based on the average resale 17
29		-	or salvage value of similar technology, computer hardware, or software as a 18
30		-	percentage of the initial cost of purchase. 19
31		-	"§ 115C-102.11. Break/fix rate reporting requirement. 20
32		-	(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 21
33		-	(1) Break/fix rate. – The percentage obtained by dividing the number of school 22
34		-	technology devices reported as malfunctioning or needing repair due to 23
35		-	physical damage, hardware failure, or other breakage incidents prior to the 24
36		-	stated life cycle period, not covered by insurance or a policy plan period, by 25
37		-	the total number of school technology devices in operation during that period. 26
38		-	(2) School technology device. – Any electronic or computerized equipment 27
39		-	provided for educational purposes in a public school unit, including 28
40		-	computers, tablets, interactive whiteboards, and similar devices or anything 29
41		-	considered a digital device for purposes of the digital learning dashboard 30
42		-	pursuant to G.S. 115C-102.9. 31
43		-	(b) Each governing body of a public school unit shall submit a report on the following 32
44		-	information to the State Board of Education by August 15 annually: 33
45		-	(1) The break/fix rate of the school technology devices in the public school unit 34
46		-	for the previous school year. 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
47		-	Page 2 Senate Bill 449-Second Edition
48		-	(2) The total number of school technology devices currently in operation in the 1
49		-	public school unit. 2
50		-	(3) The total number of school technology devices in the public school unit 3
51		-	requiring repair that (i) underwent repair or (ii) were no longer in service 4
52		-	during the previous school year. 5
53		-	(4) The total amount of funds spent to repair or replace school technology devices 6
54		-	during the previous school year. 7
55		-	(c) The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight 8
56		-	Committee by November 15 annually on the break/fix rate of school technology devices across 9
57		-	all public school units based on the reports submitted by the governing bodies in accordance with 10
58		-	subsection (b) of this section. This report shall include a summary of the data reported by each 11
59		-	governing body and recommendations to reduce break/fix rates in the future." 12
60		-	SECTION 1.(b) The first reports from governing bodies of public school units 13
61		-	required by G.S. 115C-102.11(b), as enacted by this section, shall be submitted no later than 14
62		-	August 15, 2026, based on data collected during the 2025-2026 school year. The first report from 15
63		-	the State Board of Education required by G.S. 115C-102.11(c), as enacted by this section, shall 16
64		-	be submitted no later than November 15, 2026. 17
65		-	SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 115C-12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 18
66		-	"(50) To Require Evaluation of Technology Costs. – The State Board shall adopt 19
67		-	rules governing public school units evaluating technology costs in accordance 20
68		-	with G.S. 115C-102.10." 21
69		-	SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding the following new subdivisions 22
70		-	to read: 23
71		-	"(70) To Evaluate Technology Costs. – A local board of education shall adopt a 24
72		-	policy requiring the evaluation of technology costs considerations adopted by 25
73		-	the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C-102.10. 26
74		-	(71) To Report on Break/Fix Rate. – A local board of education shall report 27
75		-	annually to the State Board of Education on the break/fix rate of school 28
76		-	technology devices in accordance with G.S. 115C-102.11." 29
77		-	SECTION 2.(c) G.S. 115C-150.12C is amended by adding the following new 30
78		-	subdivisions to read: 31
79		-	"(37) Evaluate technology costs. – The board of trustees shall adopt a policy 32
80		-	requiring the evaluation of technology costs considerations adopted by the 33
81		-	State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C-102.10. 34
82		-	(38) Report on break/fix rate. – The board of trustees shall report annually to the 35
83		-	State Board of Education on the break/fix rate of school technology devices 36
84		-	used in the school in accordance with G.S. 115C-102.11." 37
85		-	SECTION 2.(d) Part 2 of Article 14A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 38
86		-	amended by adding a new section to read: 39
87		-	"§ 115C-218.33. School technology. 40
88		-	(a) A charter school shall adopt a policy requiring the evaluation of technology costs 41
89		-	considerations adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C-102.10. 42
90		-	(b) A charter school shall report annually to the State Board of Education on the break/fix 43
91		-	rate of school technology devices used in the school in accordance with G.S. 115C-102.11." 44
92		-	SECTION 2.(e) G.S. 115C-238.66 is amended by adding the following new 45
93		-	subdivisions to read: 46
94		-	"(18a) The board of directors shall adopt a policy requiring the evaluation of 47
95		-	technology costs considerations adopted by the State Board of Education 48
96		-	pursuant to G.S. 115C-102.10. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
97		-	Senate Bill 449-Second Edition Page 3
98		-	(18b) The board of directors shall report annually to the State Board of Education 1
99		-	on the break/fix rate of technology used in the school in accordance with 2
100		-	G.S. 115C-102.11." 3
101		-	SECTION 2.(f) G.S. 116-239.8(b) is amended by adding the following new 4
102		-	subdivisions to read: 5
103		-	"(21a) Evaluate technology costs. – The chancellor shall adopt a policy requiring the 6
104		-	evaluation of technology costs considerations adopted by the State Board of 7
105		-	Education pursuant to G.S. 115C-102.10. 8
106		-	(21b) Report on break/fix rate. – The chancellor shall report annually to the State 9
107		-	Board of Education on the break/fix rate of technology used in the school in 10
108		-	accordance with G.S. 115C-102.11." 11
109		-	SECTION 3. Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 12
110		-	section to read: 13
111		-	"§ 115D-9.40. Evaluation of technology costs. 14
112		-	The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a policy that requires all community 15
113		-	colleges to evaluate the following when acquiring technology, computer hardware, and software: 16
114		-	(1) The long-term cost of ownership, including costs of repairing the technology, 17
115		-	computer hardware, or software. 18
116		-	(2) Any flexibility for innovation during the life of the technology, computer 19
117		-	hardware, or software. 20
118		-	(3) Any anticipated resale or salvage value at the end of the target life cycle for 21
119		-	the technology, computer hardware, or software based on the average resale 22
120		-	or salvage value of similar technology, computer hardware, or software as a 23
121		-	percentage of the initial cost of purchase." 24
122		-	SECTION 4. G.S. 116-11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 25
123		-	"(9c) The Board shall adopt a policy that requires all constituent institutions to 26
124		-	evaluate the following when acquiring technology, computer hardware, and 27
125		-	software: 28
126		-	a. The long-term cost of ownership, including costs of repairing the 29
127		-	technology, computer hardware, or software. 30
128		-	b. Any flexibility for innovation during the life of the technology, 31
129		-	computer hardware, or software. 32
130		-	c. Any anticipated resale or salvage value at the end of the target life 33
131		-	cycle for the technology, computer hardware, or software based on the 34
132		-	average resale or salvage value of similar technology, computer 35
133		-	hardware, or software as a percentage of the initial cost of purchase." 36
134		-	SECTION 5. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with 37
135		-	the 2025-2026 academic year. 38
	18	+	SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 115C-12 is amended by adding the following new subdivisions 7
	19	+	to read: 8
	20	+	"(50) Rule on technology costs. – The State Board shall adopt rules that require all 9
	21	+	public school units to evaluate the following when acquiring technology, 10
	22	+	computer hardware, and software: 11
	23	+	a. The long-term cost of ownership, including costs of repairing the 12
	24	+	technology, computer hardware, or software. 13
	25	+	b. Any flexibility for innovation during the life of the technology, 14
	26	+	computer hardware, or software. 15
	27	+	c. Any anticipated resale or salvage value at the end of the target life 16
	28	+	cycle for the technology, computer hardware, or software based on the 17
	29	+	average resale or salvage value of similar technology, computer 18
	30	+	hardware, or software as a percentage of the initial cost of purchase. 19
	31	+	(51) Report on break/fix rate. – The State Board shall report to the Joint Legislative 20
	32	+	Education Oversight Committee by November 15 of each year on the 21
	33	+	break/fix rate of technology across all public school units based on the 22
	34	+	information provided by public school units pursuant to G.S. 115C-47(70), 23
	35	+	115C-218.33, 115C-238.66(4a), 115C-150.12C(37), and 116-239.8(b)(6a). 24
	36	+	The report shall include a summary of the data reported by public school units 25
	37	+	as well as recommendations to reduce break/fix rates in the future." 26
	38	+	SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 27
	39	+	"(70) Report on break/fix rate. – 28
	40	+	a. The following definitions shall apply in this subdivision: 29
	41	+	1. Break/fix rate. – The percentage obtained by dividing the 30
	42	+	number of school technology devices that have been reported 31
	43	+	as malfunctioning or requiring repair due to physical damage, 32
	44	+	hardware failure, or other breakage incidents prior to stated life 33
	45	+	cycle period, not covered by insurance or a policy plan period, 34
	46	+	by the total number of technology devices in operation during 35
	47	+	that period. 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	48	+	Page 2 Senate Bill 449-First Edition
	49	+	2. School technology device. – Any electronic or computerized 1
	50	+	equipment provided for educational purposes in a public 2
	51	+	school unit, including, but not limited to, computers, tablets, 3
	52	+	interactive whiteboards, and similar devices or anything 4
	53	+	considered a digital device for purposes of the digital learning 5
	54	+	dashboard pursuant to G.S. 115C-102.9. 6
	55	+	b. Each local board of education shall submit a report to the State Board 7
	56	+	of Education and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee 8
	57	+	on the break/fix rate of school technology devices by August 15 of 9
	58	+	each year. The report shall include the following: 10
	59	+	1. The break/fix rate, as defined in sub-subdivision a. of this 11
	60	+	subdivision, of the local school administrative unit from the 12
	61	+	previous school year. 13
	62	+	2. The total number of school technology devices currently in 14
	63	+	operation in the local school administrative unit. 15
	64	+	3. The total number of school technology devices in the local 16
	65	+	school administrative unit requiring repair, that have 17
	66	+	undergone repair, or are no longer in service during the 18
	67	+	previous school year. 19
	68	+	4. The total amount of funds spent to repair or replace school 20
	69	+	technology devices during the previous school year." 21
	70	+	SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 115C-150.12C is amended by adding a new subdivision to 22
	71	+	read: 23
	72	+	"(37) Report on break/fix rate. – The board of trustees shall report annually to the 24
	73	+	State Board of Education on the break/fix rate of technology used in the school 25
	74	+	consistent with G.S. 115C-47(70)." 26
	75	+	SECTION 1.(d) Part 2 of Article 14A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 27
	76	+	amended by adding a new section to read: 28
	77	+	"§ 115C-218.33. Report on break/fix rate. 29
	78	+	A charter school shall report annually to the State Board of Education on the break/fix rate 30
	79	+	of technology used in the school consistent with G.S. 115C-47(70)." 31
	80	+	SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 115C-238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 32
	81	+	"(4a) The board of directors shall report annually to the State Board of Education 33
	82	+	on the break/fix rate of technology used in the school consistent with 34
	83	+	G.S. 115C-47(70)." 35
	84	+	SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 116-239.8(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 36
	85	+	"(6a) Report on break/fix rate. – The chancellor shall report annually to the State 37
	86	+	Board of Education on the break/fix rate of technology used in the school 38
	87	+	consistent with G.S. 115C-47(70)." 39
	88	+	SECTION 1.(g) The first reports pursuant to this section shall be given no later than 40
	89	+	August 15, 2026, based on data collected during the 2025-2026 school year. 41
	90	+	SECTION 2. Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 42
	91	+	section to read: 43
	92	+	"§ 115D-9.40. Report on technology costs. 44
	93	+	The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a policy that requires all community 45
	94	+	colleges to evaluate the following when acquiring technology, computer hardware, and software: 46
	95	+	(1) The long-term cost of ownership, including costs of repairing the technology, 47
	96	+	computer hardware, or software. 48
	97	+	(2) Any flexibility for innovation during the life of the technology, computer 49
	98	+	hardware, or software. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	99	+	Senate Bill 449-First Edition Page 3
	100	+	(3) Any anticipated resale or salvage value at the end of the target life cycle for 1
	101	+	the technology, computer hardware, or software based on the average resale 2
	102	+	or salvage value of similar technology, computer hardware, or software as a 3
	103	+	percentage of the initial cost of purchase." 4
	104	+	SECTION 3. G.S. 116-11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 5
	105	+	"(9c) The Board shall adopt a policy that requires all constituent institutions to 6
	106	+	evaluate the following when acquiring the technology, computer hardware, 7
	107	+	and software: 8
	108	+	a. The long-term cost of ownership, including costs of repairing the 9
	109	+	technology, computer hardware, or software. 10
	110	+	b. Any flexibility for innovation during the life of the technology, 11
	111	+	computer hardware, or software. 12
	112	+	c. Any anticipated resale or salvage value at the end of the target life 13
	113	+	cycle for the technology, computer hardware, or software based on the 14
	114	+	average resale or salvage value of similar technology, computer 15
	115	+	hardware, or software as a percentage of the initial cost of purchase." 16
	116	+	SECTION 4. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with 17
	117	+	the 2025-2026 academic year. 18