North Carolina HB 957: Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Historically Minority-Serving Institutions Omnibus.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 957

Short Title: HBCU/HMSI Omnibus. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Hawkins, Ward, and Baker (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
Operations of the House
April 14, 2025
*H957-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS AND MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE LAWS 2
TO SUPPORT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND 3
UNIVERSITIES AND HISTORICALLY MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS IN 4
NORTH CAROLINA. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
7
PART I. JOINT LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE AT 8
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 9
SECTION 1.(a) There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee (Committee) 10
on Infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). 11
SECTION 1.(b) The Committee shall consist of nine members of the Senate 12
appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and nine members of the House of 13
Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The President Pro 14
Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint a 15
cochair of the Committee from among its membership. These appointments shall be made no 16
later than September 1, 2025. 17
It is expected that the makeup of the Committee reflect geographic and urban/rural 18
diversity. At least one member of the House of Representatives and at least one member of the 19
Senate shall be from the minority party of their respective chambers. 20
SECTION 1.(c) In consultation with the Board of Governors of The University of 21
North Carolina and the president or equivalent officer of each HBCU in this State, the Committee 22
shall study all of the following related to buildings on HBCU campuses in the State: 23
(1) Threats posed to HBCUs by the proximity of certain facilities to toxic sites. 24
(2) Vulnerability of facilities to natural disasters and environmental risks. 25
(3) Age of facilities. 26
(4) Student enrollment in relation to classroom capacity. 27
(5) The condition of major systems, including heating, ventilation, air 28
conditioning, electrical, water, and sewer. 29
(6) The condition of exterior components of facilities, including roofing, 30
windows, and doors. 31
(7) Critical health of and other safety conditions of campus buildings. 32
(8) Facilities in significant disrepair and any deferred maintenance on those 33
facilities. 34

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 957-First Edition
(9) Any other issue the Committee considers relevant. 1
SECTION 1.(d) The Committee shall meet upon the call of its cochairs. A quorum 2
of the Committee is a majority of its members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote 3
at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Committee, while in the discharge of its official 4
duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through 5
G.S. 120-19.4. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services, as 6
provided by G.S. 120-32.02. If the Committee hires a consultant, the consultant shall not be a 7
State employee or a person currently under contract with the State to provide services. Members 8
of the Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowance as provided in 9
G.S. 120-3.1. The expenses of the Committee shall be considered expenses incurred for the joint 10
operation of the General Assembly. 11
SECTION 1.(e) The Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and 12
clerical staff to assist the Committee in its work. The Director of Legislative Assistants of the 13
House of Representatives and the Director of Legislative Assistants of the Senate shall assign 14
clerical support to the Committee. 15
SECTION 1.(f) Meetings of the Committee shall begin no later than August 15, 16
2025. The Committee shall submit a final report on the results of its study and development, 17
including proposed legislation, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on or 18
before January 1, 2026, by filing a copy of the report with the Office of the President Pro Tempore 19
of the Senate, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Legislative 20
Education Oversight Committee, and the Legislative Library. The Committee shall terminate on 21
January 1, 2026, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever comes first. 22
23
PART II. PERMANENT COMPLETION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 24
SECTION 2.(a) Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by 25
adding the following new section to read: 26
"§ 116-44.9. Completion Assistance Programs. 27
(a) Definition. – For purposes of this section, the term "eligible constituent institutions" 28
refers to the following constituent institutions of The