GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2025

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 186

 

 

Short Title:      The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Representatives Biggs, Balkcom, N. Jackson, and Bell (Primary Sponsors).

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

Referred to:

Education - K-12, if favorable, Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

February 26, 2025

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to schedule recitation of the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of the school day and to require recitation of the pledge at state board of education and governing body meetings.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

part i. require pledge of allegiance to be scheduled at the beginning of the school day

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 115C‑47(29a) reads as rewritten:

"(29a)  To Require the Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags, and to Require the Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. – Local boards of education shall adopt policies to (i) require the display of the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom, when available, (ii) require that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance be scheduled on a daily basis, basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide age‑appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. These policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom."

SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 115C‑150.12C(23), as enacted by S.L. 2023‑10, reads as rewritten:

"(23)    The Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags and the Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. – The board of trustees shall adopt policies to (i) require the display of the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom when available, (ii) require that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance be scheduled on a daily basis, daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide age‑appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. These policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom."

SECTION 1.(c)  G.S. 115C‑218.80 reads as rewritten:

"§ 115C‑218.80.  Display of the United States and North Carolina flags and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

A charter school shall (i) display the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom when available, (ii) require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide age‑appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. A charter school shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom."

SECTION 1.(d)  G.S. 115C‑238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(23)    Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. – A regional school shall schedule recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day. A regional school shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance."

SECTION 1.(e)  G.S. 116‑69.1 reads as rewritten:

"§ 116‑69.1.  Display of the United States and North Carolina flags and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The school shall (i) display the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom when available, (ii) require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) provide instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. The school shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom."

SECTION 1.(f)  G.S. 116‑235(i) reads as rewritten:

"(i)       The Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags and the Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. – The Board of Trustees shall adopt policies to require (i) the display of the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom when available, (ii) the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day, and (iii) the instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. These policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom."

SECTION 1.(g)  G.S. 116‑239.8(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(26)    Display of the United States and North Carolina flags and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. – Laboratory schools shall schedule recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day."

 

part ii. require recitation of pledge of allegiance at state board of education and governing body meetings

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 115C‑11 reads as rewritten:

"§ 115C‑11.  Organization and internal procedures of Board.

…

(b)        Regular Meetings of Board. – The regular meetings of the Board shall be held each month on a day certain, as determined by the Board. The Board shall determine the hour of the meeting, which may be adjourned from day to day, or to a day certain, until the business before the Board has been completed.

(b1)      Annual meeting with the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina. Carolina. – The State Board of Education shall meet with the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina at least once a year to discuss educational matters of mutual interest and to recommend to the General Assembly such policies as are appropriate to encourage the improvement of public education at every level in this State. The meeting in 1987 and every three years thereafter shall be hosted by the University Board of Governors, the meeting in 1988 and every three years thereafter shall be hosted by the State Board of Education, and the meeting in 1989 and every three years thereafter shall be hosted by the State Board of Community Colleges.

(b2)      Pledge of Allegiance. – Every regular and special meeting of the Board shall begin with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, in the manner provided by 4 U.S.C. § 4. This policy shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

…."

SECTION 2.(b)  Article 7B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:

"Part 2. Duties of Governing Bodies of Public School Units.

"§ 115C‑76.10.  Pledge of Allegiance.

Every meeting of a governing body of a public school unit shall begin with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, in the manner provided by 4 U.S.C. § 4. This policy shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance."

 

part iii. effective date

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.