North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 13 R cosponsors

SB 312 — The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 17, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    2 primary, 11 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (13 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

13 added · 14 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Senate Bill 312 has clarified that no one can be forced to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance during meetings of the State Board of Education or related governing bodies. This change is important because it emphasizes individual choice and freedom of expression in public meetings, ensuring that participation is voluntary rather than mandatory.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Mar 17, 2025 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 312 Short Title:
312 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS35131-NH-125 Short Title:
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 PLEDGEATSTATEBOARDOFEDUCATIONANDGOVERNINGBODYMEETINGS.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 18, 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 PLEDGEATSTATEBOARDOFEDUCATIONANDGOVERNING BODYMEETINGS.
Acharterschoolshall (i)displaytheUnitedStates andNorth Carolinaflagsineachclassroom when available, (ii) require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, daily basis *DRS35131-NH-125* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 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.
Acharterschoolshall (i)displaytheUnitedStates andNorth Carolinaflagsineachclassroom when available, (ii) require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, daily basis *S312-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 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.
The school shall not compel any personto stand, salutethe flag,or recitethePledge ofAllegiance.
The school shall not compel anypersonto stand, salutethe flag,or recitethePledge ofAllegiance.
– The State Board of Education shall meet with the State Board of CommunityColleges 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 ofpublic education at everylevel in this State.
– The State Board of Education shall meet with the State Board of CommunityColleges 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 ofpublic education at everylevel in this State.The meetingin 1987and everythree years thereafter shall be hosted by the University Board of Governors, the meeting in 1988 and Page 2 Senate Bill 312-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 every three years thereafter shall be hosted by the State Board of Education, and the meeting in 1989 and everythree years thereafter shall be hosted bythe State Board of CommunityColleges.
The meetingin 1987and every three years thereafter shall be hosted by the University Board of Governors, the meeting in 1988 and Page 2 DRS35131-NH-125 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 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.
DRS35131-NH-125 Page 3
Senate Bill 312-First Edition Page 3
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How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against the N.C. General Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill mandates the scheduling of the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the school day and at meetings of the State Board of Education and governing bodies.

  • G.S. 115C-47

    (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 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.

    This addition requires local boards of education to schedule the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance within the first hour of the school day.

  • G.S. 115C-150.12C

    (23) 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 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.

    This insertion obligates the board of trustees to arrange for daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance within the instructional context.

  • G.S. 115C-218.80

    require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis within one hour of the beginning of the instructional day.

    This change enforces a requirement for charter schools to schedule recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance within the first hour of the school day.

  • G.S. 115C-238.66

    (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.

    This addition mandates regional schools to implement daily Pledge recitation without compulsion for participation.

  • G.S. 115C-11

    (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.

    This change mandates that all meetings of the State Board of Education begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, while ensuring no one is compelled to participate.

  • Article 7B of Chapter 115C

    § 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.

    This addition requires governing bodies of public school units to start their meetings with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 166 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (166)

166 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 312?
SB 312 is sponsored by Eddie D. Settle (Republican), Norman W. Sanderson (Republican), Timothy D. Moffitt (Republican), Michael A. Lazzara (Republican), Steve Jarvis (Republican), Mark Hollo (Republican), Ralph Hise (Republican), Bobby Hanig (Republican), Carl Ford (Republican), Danny Earl Britt, Jr. (Republican), David W. Craven, Jr. (Republican), Dana Jones (Republican), and Todd Johnson (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 312?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 17, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 312?
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