North Carolina SB 820: Safe Schools and Educational Access Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 820

Short Title: Safe Schools and Educational Access Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Theodros and Murdock (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
April 23, 2026
*S820-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROTECT ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS 2
OF NATIONAL ORIGIN OR IMMIGRATION STATUS, TO ESTABLISH 3
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS PROTECTED LOCATIONS FOR IMMIGRATION 4
ENFORCEMENT, AND TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR STUDENTS WITH LIMITED 5
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. 6
Whereas, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Plyler v. Doe (1982) that states 7
may not deny access to public education based on immigration status; and 8
Whereas, the North Carolina Constitution guarantees access to a sound basic 9
education for all students; and 10
Whereas, fear of immigration enforcement in or near schools can deter students from 11
attending school and undermine the educational mission of public institutions; and 12
Whereas, educational institutions function best when students and families trust that 13
schools are safe environments focused on learning; and 14
Whereas, North Carolina's population of multilingual learners continues to grow, 15
requiring additional support for language instruction and academic success; Now, therefore, 16
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 17
SECTION 1. Part 1 of Article 26 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended 18
by adding a new section to read: 19
"§ 115C-378.5. Protections for individuals based on immigration status. 20
(a) For purposes of this section, "immigration authorities" means persons representing or 21
working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border 22
Protection (CBP). 23
(b) Public school units shall not deny a student admission, enrollment, or participation in 24
an educational program based on the student's national origin or immigration status. Public 25
school units shall not require documentation of immigration status as a condition of admission 26
or enrollment. 27
(c) Public school units shall not allow immigration authorities to perform immigration 28
enforcement actions on school grounds unless required by judicial warrant, court order, or State 29
or federal law. 30
(d) Public school units shall not disclose personally identifiable student information to 31
immigration authorities unless required by judicial warrant, court order, or State or federal law. 32
(e) Public school units may establish protocols for responding to requests from 33
immigration authorities while ensuring compliance with State and federal laws." 34
SECTION 2. Article 2 of Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by 35
adding a new section to read: 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 820-First Edition
"§ 115D-20.3. Protections for individuals based on immigration status. 1
Community colleges shall comply with the protections for individuals based on immigration 2
status under G.S. 116-40.15." 3
SECTION 3. Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended 4
by adding a new section to read: 5
"§ 116-40.15. Protections for individuals based on immigration status. 6
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: 7
(1) Immigration authorities. – Persons representing or working for U.S. 8
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border 9
Protection (CBP). 10
(2) Public institution of higher education. – A community college as defined in 11
G.S. 115D-2(2) or a constituent institution of The University of North 12
Carolina. 13
(b) A public institution of higher education shall not deny a student admission, 14
enrollment, or participation in an educational program based on the student's national origin or 15
immigration status. The institution shall not require documentation of immigration status as a 16
condition of admission or enrollment. 17
(c) A public institution of higher education shall not allow immigration authorities to 18
perform immigration enforcement actions on campus unless required by judicial warrant, court 19
order, or State or federal law. 20
(d) A public institution of higher education shall not disclose personally identifiable 21
student information to immigration authorities unless required by judicial warrant, court order, 22
or State or federal law. 23
(e) A public institution of higher education may establish protocols for responding to 24
requests from immigration authorities while ensuring compliance with State and federal laws." 25
SECTION 4.(a) The title of Article 32F of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes 26
reads as rewritten: 27
"Supplemental School Funding.Funding and Other Allotments." 28
SECTION 4.(b) Article 32F of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 29
adding a new section to read: 30
"§ 115C-472.30. Limited English proficient allotment. 31
To the extent funds are made available for this pur