North Carolina SB 962: Investing in North Carolina Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 962

Short Title: Investing in North Carolina Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Grafstein and Garson (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S962-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO RAISE SALARIES FOR TEACHERS, STATE 2
EMPLOYEES, COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMPLOYEES, AND EMPLOYEES OF THE 3
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TO PROVIDE A COST-OF-LIVING 4
INCREASE FOR RETIREES IN THE EVENT THE CURRENT OPERATIONS 5
APPROPRIATIONS ACT DOES NOT BECOME LAW AND TO PROVIDE FOR 6
FUTURE SALARY INCREASES FOR TEACHERS, STATE EMPLOYEES, 7
COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMPLOYEES, AND EMPLOYEES OF THE UNIVERSITY 8
OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE EVENT FUTURE CURRENT OPERATIONS 9
APPROPRIATIONS ACTS DO NOT BECOME LAW. 10
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 11
12
PART I. CONTINGENT EFFECT FOR CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT 13
SECTION 1. Part II and Part III of this act become effective only if the Current 14
Operations Appropriations Act for the 2026-2027 fiscal year does not become law in the 2025 15
Regular Session of the General Assembly. In that case, the effective date of Part II and Part III 16
of this act shall be the earlier of the following: 17
(1) The first day after the General Assembly adjourns the 2025 Regular Session 18
sine die. 19
(2) January 1, 2027. 20
21
PART II. RAISE TEACHER SALARIES 22
SECTION 2.(a) The following monthly teacher salary schedule shall apply for the 23
2026-2027 fiscal year to licensed personnel of the public schools who are classified as teachers. 24
The salary schedule is based on years of teaching experience. 25
2026-2027 Teacher Monthly Salary Schedule 26
Years of Experience "A" Teachers 27
0 $4,600 28
1 $4,685 29
2 $4,770 30
3 $4,855 31
4 $4,940 32
5 $5,025 33
6 $5,110 34
7 $5,195 35
8 $5,280 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 962-First Edition
9 $5,365 1
10 $5,450 2
11 $5,535 3
12 $5,620 4
13 $5,705 5
14 $5,790 6
15 $5,875 7
16 $5,950 8
17-19 $6,070 9
20-22 $6,135 10
23-25 $6,200 11
26-28 $6,295 12
29+ $6,370 13
SECTION 2.(b) Salary Supplements for Teachers Paid on This Salary Schedule. – 14
(1) Licensed teachers who have NBPTS certification shall receive a salary 15
supplement each month of twelve percent (12%) of their monthly salary on 16
the "A" salary schedule. 17
(2) Licensed teachers who are classified as "M" teachers shall receive a salary 18
supplement each month of ten percent (10%) of their monthly salary on the 19
"A" salary schedule. 20
(3) Licensed teachers with licensure based on academic preparation at the 21
six-year degree level shall receive a salary supplement of one hundred 22
twenty-six dollars ($126.00) per month in addition to the supplement provided 23
to them as "M" teachers. 24
(4) Licensed teachers with licensure based on academic preparation at the 25
doctoral degree level shall receive a salary supplement of two hundred 26
fifty-three dollars ($253.00) per month in addition to the supplement provided 27
to them as "M" teachers. 28
(5) Certified school nurses shall receive a salary supplement each month of ten 29
percent (10%) of their monthly salary on the "A" salary schedule. 30
(6) School counselors who are licensed as counselors at the master's degree level 31
or higher shall receive a salary supplement of one hundred dollars ($100.00) 32
per month. 33
SECTION 2.(c) For school psychologists, school speech pathologists who are 34
licensed as speech pathologists at the master's degree level or higher, and school audiologists 35
who are licensed as audiologists at the master's degree level or higher, the following shall apply: 36
(1) The first step of the salary schedule shall be equivalent to the sixth step of the 37
"A" salary schedule. 38
(2) These employees shall receive the following salary supplements each month: 39
a. Ten percent (10%) of their monthly salary, excluding the supplement 40
provided pursuant to sub-subdivision b. of this subdivision. 41
b. Five hundred dollars ($500.00). 42
(3) These employees are eligible to receive salary supplements equivalent to those 43
of teachers for academic preparation at the six-year degree level or the 44
doctoral degree level. 45
(4) The twenty-sixth step of the salary schedule shall be seven and one-half 46
percent (7.5%) higher than the salary received by these same employees on 47
the twenty-fifth step of the salary schedule. 48
SECTION 2.(d) Beginning with the 2014-2015 fiscal year, in lieu of providing 49
annual longevity payments to teachers paid on the teacher salary schedule, the amounts of those 50
longevity payments are included in the monthly amounts under the teacher salary schedule. 51

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 962-First Edition Page 3
SECTION 2.(e) A teacher compensated in accordance with this salary schedule for 1
the 2026-2027 school year shall receive an amount equal to the greater of the following: 2
(1) The