North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 24 R · 13 D cosponsors

HB 1163 — Workforce Act of 2026.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 30, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 37 sponsors

    3 primary, 34 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (24 R · 13 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

85 added · 83 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of HB 1163 has made a few important changes. Firstly, it now specifies that the Department of Commerce will receive $350,000 in funding to develop and maintain a list of valuable industry credentials aligned with federal Workforce Pell Grants. Additionally, the updated bill has removed references to job placement statistics, focusing instead on labor market demand. These changes matter because they streamline the bill’s objectives, emphasizing workforce needs, which could better prepare individuals for employment opportunities in North Carolina.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 1163 Short Title:
1163 Apr 30, 2026 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH30578-NGa-140 Short Title:Workforce Act of 2026.
Workforce Act of 2026.
Representative Blackwell.
Representatives Blackwell, Lambeth, Paré, and Schietzelt (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE STATE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
Education - K-12, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House May 4, 2026 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE STATE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
– This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Workforce Act of 2026." SECTION 1.(b) Introduction.
– This act shall be known and maybe cited as the "Workforce Act of 2026." SECTION 1.(b) Introduction.
– The General Assembly finds that, due to the critical importance to the State of identifying industry-valued credentials, promoting programs of study leading to industry-valued credentials, and aligning industry-valued credentials and programs of study leading to those credentials with federal Workforce Pell Grant implementation, it is *DRH30578-NGa-140* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 necessary that the State provide funds to the Department of Commerce (Department) to develop and maintain a list of industry-valued credentials, to continually determine programs of study to meet workforce needs, and to ensure alignment to federal Workforce Pell Grants.
– The General Assembly finds that, due to the critical importance to the State of identifying industry-valued credentials, promoting programs of study *H1163-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 leading to industry-valued credentials, and aligning industry-valued credentials and programs of study leading to those credentials with federal Workforce Pell Grant implementation, it is necessary that the State provide funds to the Department of Commerce (Department) to develop and maintain a list of industry-valued credentials, to continually determine programs of study to meet workforce needs, and to ensure alignment to federal Workforce Pell Grants.
– Of the funds appropriated to the Department under subsection (b) of this section, the Department mayuse up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) each fiscal year for outreach and communications consistent with the purposes of this section, including to contract with non-State entities for outreach and communications.
– Of the funds appropriated to the Department under subsection (b) of this section, the Department mayuse up to fiftythousand dollars ($50,000) each fiscal year for outreach and communications consistent with the purposes of this section, including to contract with non-State entities for outreach and communications.
Page 2 DRH30578-NGa-140 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "(e) Administrative Costs.
Page 2 House Bill 1163-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "(e) Administrative Costs.
– The North Carolina Community Colleges System Office may use up to four percent (4%) of the funds appropriated for the Program for administrative costs associated with administration of the Program." SECTION 3.2.(c) Appropriation.
– The North Carolina CommunityColleges System Office may use up to four percent (4%) of the funds appropriated for the Program for administrative costs associated with administration of the Program." SECTION 3.2.(c) Appropriation.
– There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in recurring funds beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year for the Short-Term Workforce Development Grant Program.
– There is appropriated from the General Fund to the CommunityColleges System Office the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in recurring funds beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year for the Short-Term Workforce Development Grant Program.
The expanded Initiative shall allow students to easily compare credit transfer options, speed up student decision making, DRH30578-NGa-140 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 and streamline transfer planning and progress toward degrees in a manner that reduces overall costs for students in the State.
The expanded Initiative shall allow students to easily compare credit transfer options, speed up student decision making, House Bill 1163-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 and streamline transfer planning and progress toward degrees in a manner that reduces overall costs for students in the State.
The Collaboratory shall report the results of its evaluation to theJoint LegislativeEducation Oversight CommitteebyMarch 15 of eachyearthrough March 15, 2030.
The Collaboratory shall report the results of its evaluation to theJoint LegislativeEducation Oversight CommitteebyMarch 15 of each yearthrough March 15, 2030.
Page 4 DRH30578-NGa-140 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) The total number of students and adult learners engaging with each program or initiative established in this act.
Page 4 House Bill 1163-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) The total number of students and adult learners engaging with each program or initiative established in this act.
Local boards of education shall ensure that Plansare easily accessibleto students andparents andshall provideparents (i)annual written notice of the creation or revision of a Plan, (ii) information on how to access the Plan, (iii) a listingofcourseofferingsforthenextschoolyearwithadescriptionofthecontentofeach course, and (iv) high school graduation requirements where appropriate.
Local boards of education shall ensure that Plansare easilyaccessibleto students andparents and shall provideparents (i)annual written notice of the creation or revision of a Plan, (ii) information on how to access the Plan, (iii) a listingofcourseofferings forthenextschool yearwithadescription ofthecontentofeachcourse, and (iv) high school graduation requirements where appropriate.
Prior to creating or updating a DRH30578-NGa-140 Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 student's Plan, a school counselor shall attempt to meet with the student's parent, either in person or virtually, to explain the possible effects that the Plan might have on the student's graduation requirements and career development planning.
Prior to creating or updating a House Bill 1163-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 student's Plan, a school counselor shall attempt to meet with the student's parent, either in person or virtually, to explain the possible effects that the Plan might have on the student's graduation requirements and career development planning.
The school counselor shall also provide information on the Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and its use and notify the parent that information included in the FAFSA is confidential and not accessible by the school.
The school counselor shall also provide information on the Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and its use and notifythe parent that information included in the FAFSA is confidential and not accessible by the school.
– The North Carolina Collaboratory (Collaboratory), in collaboration with thesuperintendent ofalocal school administrativeunit that has a partnered school participating in the Program, shall develop reporting requirements for partnered schools participating in the Program to provide information on the effectiveness of the annual review of the Plans.
– The North Carolina Collaboratory (Collaboratory),in collaboration with thesuperintendent ofalocal school administrativeunit that has a partnered school participating in the Program, shall develop reporting requirements for partnered schools participating in the Program to provide information on the effectiveness of the annual review of the Plans.
– A teacher of Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme courses, or the Page 6 DRH30578-NGa-140 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program who meets the following criteria:
– A teacher of Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme courses, or the Page 6 House Bill 1163-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program who meets the following criteria:
DRH30578-NGa-140 Page 7 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 3.
House Bill 1163-First Edition Page 7 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 3.
A school providing elementary or secondary instruction operated by The University of North Carolina under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes.
A school providing elementary or secondary instruction operated by The Universityof North Carolina under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes.
Page 8 DRH30578-NGa-140 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) For Advanced Placement courses, a score of three or higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination.
Page 8 House Bill 1163-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) For Advanced Placement courses, a score of three or higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination.
(1) Academic rigor shall be based on the number of instructional hours, including work experience orinternship hours,required to earntheindustry certification or credential, with extra weight given for coursework that also provides community college credit.
(1) Academic rigor shall be based on the number of instructional hours, including work experience orinternship hours,required to earntheindustrycertification or credential, with extra weight given for coursework that also provides community college credit.
These funds shall be divided proportionally based on average daily membership in third grade for each local school administrative unit and then distributed equally among qualifying third grade reading teachers in each local school administrative unit.
These funds shall be divided proportionally based on average daily membership in third grade for each local school administrative unit and then distributed equallyamong qualifying third grade reading teachers in each local school administrative unit.
DRH30578-NGa-140 Page 9 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) A bonus in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) shall be awarded to each qualifying teacher who is an eligible teacher under sub-sub-subdivision b.2.
House Bill 1163-First Edition Page 9 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) A bonus in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) shall be awarded to each qualifying teacher who is an eligible teacher under sub-sub-subdivision b.2.
(j) Study and Report.
(j) Studyand Report.
– The North Carolina Collaboratory (Collaboratory) shall study the effect of the program on teacher performance and retention.
– The North Carolina Collaboratory(Collaboratory) shall studythe effect of the program on teacher performance and retention.
The Collaboratory shall report the results of its findings and the amount of bonuses awarded to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, and the Fiscal Research Division by March 15 of each year.
The Collaboratory shall report the results of its findings and the amount of bonuses awarded to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, and the Fiscal Research Division byMarch 15 of each year.
Page 10 DRH30578-NGa-140 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (3) Number of teachers receiving a bonus in each category of courses identified in subdivision (1) of this subsection.
Page 10 House Bill 1163-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (3) Number of teachers receiving a bonus in each category of courses identified in subdivision (1) of this subsection.
DRH30578-NGa-140 Page 11
House Bill 1163-First Edition Page 11
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 34 co-sponsors · 142 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (34)

Not signed on (142)

142 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 142 →

"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

labor 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 HB 1163?
HB 1163 is sponsored by Tracy Clark (Democratic), Todd Carver (Republican), Becky Carney (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), Brian Biggs (Republican), Mary Belk (Democratic), Mike Schietzelt (Republican), Erin Paré (Republican), Donny Lambeth (Republican), Hugh Blackwell (Republican), Jeff Zenger (Republican), Shelly Willingham (Democratic), Donna McDowell White (Republican), Bill Ward (Republican), Larry C. Strickland (Republican), Stephen M. Ross (Republican), Heather H. Rhyne (Republican), A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. (Republican), Lindsey Prather (Democratic), Larry W. Potts (Republican), Dante Pittman (Democratic), Joseph Pike (Republican), Howard Penny, Jr. (Republican), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Charles W. Miller (Republican), Jeffrey C. McNeely (Republican), Jordan Lopez (Democratic), Donnie Loftis (Republican), Frank Iler (Republican), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Blair Eddins (Republican), Tricia Ann Cotham (Republican), Mike Colvin (Democratic), Beth Helfrich (Democratic), Neal Jackson (Republican), and Jake Johnson (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 1163?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 30, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 1163?
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