North Carolina HB 780: Uphold Historical Marriage Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 780
Corrected Copy 4/7/25

Short Title: All Pro Dads & Responsible Fatherhood NC. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Willis, D. Hall, B. Jones, and Bell (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Health, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations
of the House
April 7, 2025
*H780-v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL ALL PRO DAD CHAPTERS AND 2
CREATE A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT NORTH CAROLINA FATHERS. 3
Whereas, research affirms that children with involved fathers tend to perform better 4
socially, maintain better school attendance, have a lower risk of dropping out, and are less likely 5
to engage in the use of drugs or alcohol; and 6
Whereas, the fatherlessness crisis in America affects 1 in 5 children, or 15.7 million 7
kids, who are raised without a father (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023); and 8
Whereas, 80% of single-parent households in the United States in 2023 were headed 9
by single mothers; and 10
Whereas, abundant research demonstrates that 71% of children growing up without a 11
father figure, whether physically or emotionally absent, perform more poorly academically and 12
experience regular truancy; and 13
Whereas, teens without a father are 7 times more likely to experience teen pregnancy 14
and have a 54% likelihood of being poorer than their parents; and 15
Whereas, there is an 85% chance that fatherless children will become involved with 16
the juvenile justice system (Children's Bureau, 2023); and 17
Whereas, fathers' engagement plays a critical role in helping children overcome 18
barriers to education, including mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges; and 19
Whereas, such engagement fosters improvements in social interactions, academic 20
performance, school attendance, and decreases the likelihood of dropping out, while improving 21
student performance; and 22
Whereas, conversely, impaired behaviors exhibited by fathers can lead to insufficient 23
development of a child's emotional intelligence and mental resilience, hindering their overall 24
growth and educational success; Now, therefore, 25
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 26
27
PART I. FUNDS FOR ALL PRO DAD 28
SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State 29
Budget and Management the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for 30
the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to Family First, Inc., the nonprofit 31
corporation registered in the state of Florida, to expand its All Pro Dad fatherhood program in 32
this State, provided that (i) the nonprofit registers as an entity with the Secretary of State to 33
conduct business in the State and (ii) the nonprofit allocates the funds appropriated in this act to 34

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 780-Second Edition
expand its All Pro Dad program in North Carolina, including increasing All Pro Dad Chapters in 1
schools, holding events that encourage father-child engagement and foster improved 2
communication between children and fathers, and distributing resources to help fathers enhance 3
their parenting skills and become more involved in their children's lives. 4
5
PART II. RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD NC PROGRAM 6
SECTION 2.1. Article 2 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes is amended by 7
adding a new Part to read: 8
"Part 12. Responsible Fatherhood NC Act. 9
"§ 108A-70.60. Short title. 10
This act may be cited as the "Responsible Fatherhood NC Act." 11
"§ 108A-70.61. Definitions. 12
The following definitions apply in this Part: 13
(1) Department. – Refers to the Department of Health and Human Services. 14
(2) Program. – Refers to the Responsible Fatherhood NC program. 15
"§ 108A-70.62. Creation of the Responsible Fatherhood NC program; purpose. 16
(a) The General Assembly recognizes that families are stronger when both parents act 17
responsibly in caring for their children. It is the intent of the General Assembly to recognize and 18
support the important and unique role that fathers play in ensuring the physical, emotional, and 19
economic well-being of their children and families. 20
(b) The Department shall contract for the development and implementation of the 21
Responsible Fatherhood NC program. The program shall provide an opportunity for every father 22
in the State to be able to obtain information and inspiration that will motivate and enable him to 23
enhance his abilities as a father, recognizing that some fathers have greater challenges than others 24
and would benefit from greater support. 25
(c) The entity the Department contracts with to develop, implement, and manage the 26
program, "Program Manager," shall be a nonprofit organization that satisfies all of the following 27
criteria: 28
(1) Has a history of focusing on responsible fatherhood, including providing 29
on