Next week, North Carolina General Assembly lawmakers will return to Raleigh to vote on House Bill 10, which would fully fund opportunity scholarships, require sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, and change the budget proposal. 

“With the inclusion of House Bill 10, we are also reinforcing the rule of law currently ignored by the Biden-Harris administration by requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, strengthening our public safety and protecting our communities,” said House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, in a press release. 

The House Rules Committee will meet at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11th, to discuss HB 10’s provisions requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE before the House vote on Wednesday. 

This past week, leaders in the NCGA agreed on a proposal that would fully fund the Opportunity Scholarship Program(OSP) and the Education Savings Accounts (ESA) waitlist, require sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, and address funding items in the budget. 

“While disappointing that it took so long, we are encouraged that the legislature has decided to address fully funding the expanded Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP),” Brian Balfour, VP of Research at the John Locke Foundation, told the Carolina Journal. “The overwhelming demand for the scholarships underscores the hunger North Carolina families have for educational choice. A strong majority of North Carolinians believe parents should have more decision rights over where their children go to school, and the OSP helps empower more parents to tailor their child’s education to best meet their needs.”

The conference report for HB 10 includes $248 million nonrecurring to clear the Opportunity Scholarship waitlist for the current school year and $215.5 million recurring for scholarship awards in the 2025-26 fiscal year. It also includes $24.7 million recurring to clear the ESA+ waitlist for children with disabilities. The funding would be retroactive to the beginning of this school year. Families would be eligible for a tuition reimbursement from their school.

“Families across North Carolina would benefit from the provisions included in House Bill 10. Provisions to fully fund the waitlists for the Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ Programs will give families educational options and students more opportunities to secure a school that is the right fit for their educational needs,” Dr. Bob Luebke, Director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation told the Carolina Journal.  

The bill also includes additional education funding, including $64 million recurring for Community College enrollment growth, $95 million recurring for K-12 enrollment increases, $277 million recurring and $100 million nonrecurring for Medicaid; $55.1 million for infrastructure improvements to support economic development in Chatham County; and $150 million for significant transportation improvements at the Randolph County mega site.

The Economic Development Project Reserve Fund funds the infrastructure improvements in Chatham County and the mega site in Randolph County. 

“Families across North Carolina made it clear that they want a greater say in their child’s education. Whether you’re a single parent, a young family, or in a military household, educational freedom should be attainable for all,” Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), President Pro Tempore of the Senate, said in a press release. “This agreement addresses the increased demand for Opportunity Scholarships and includes the necessary funding for public school enrollment increases.”

The agreement also authorizes a new program to expand high-speed internet in rural communities. 

The Senate will vote on Monday, Sept. 9th, and the House will vote on Sept. 11th at 2 p.m.