North Carolina 2025 Session Status: Enacted 23 R cosponsors

SB 558 — Eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Ed.

Last action — Veto Overridden

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 25, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Josh Stein (Democratic) on June 24, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 23 sponsors

    2 primary, 21 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (23 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

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.

In plain language

This bill eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public higher education.

The bill mandates the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from public colleges and universities. It seeks to change how these institutions operate concerning DEI-focused initiatives.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

71 added · 68 removed

Plain-language change summary

The new version of Bill SB 558 aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public higher education institutions. It states that these programs promote a divisive worldview and suggests they undermine true diversity of thought and opportunity. This change is significant as it reflects a broader push by some lawmakers to reshape how colleges and universities address issues of race and equality, which could affect students' education experiences and institutional policies.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 2 SENATE BILL 558 Education/Higher Education Committee Substitute Adopted 4/2/25 Short Title:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 558 Short Title:
Senators Berger, Overcash, and Corbin (Primary Sponsors).
March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO DEMONSTRATE THE GENERALASSEMBLY'S INTENT THAT STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHER EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION RECOGNIZE THE EQUALITY AND RIGHTS OF ALLPERSONS AND TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FROM PROMOTING CERTAIN CONCEPTS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO THAT INTENT.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO DEMONSTRATE THE GENERALASSEMBLY'S INTENT THAT STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHER EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION RECOGNIZE THE EQUALITY AND RIGHTS OF ALLPERSONS AND TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FROM PROMOTING CERTAIN CONCEPTS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO THAT INTENT.
(bb) The State Board shall adopt a policy prohibiting community colleges from establishing, maintaining, or otherwise implementing a process for reporting or investigating offensive or unwanted speech that is protected by the First Amendment, including satire or speech labeled as microaggression." *S558-v-2* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 2.
(bb) The State Board shall adopt a policy prohibiting community colleges from establishing, maintaining, or otherwise implementing a group or committee designed to investigate a bias incident.
For purposes of this subsection, a "bias incident" includes any conduct, speech, or expression that the community college, group, or committee labels as *S558-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 intimidating, demeaning, mocking, degrading, or marginalizing an individual or group based on the perceived or actual identity of that individual or group." SECTION 2.
Page 2 Senate Bill 558-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 k.
Page 2 Senate Bill 558-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 k.
Senate Bill 558-Second Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "(9) The constituent institution shall not establish, maintain, or otherwise implement a process for reporting or investigating offensive or unwanted speech that is protected by the First Amendment, including satire or speech labeled as microaggression." SECTION 5.
Senate Bill 558-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "(9) The constituent institution shall not establish, maintain, or otherwise implement a group or committee designed to investigate a bias incident.
For purposes of this subdivision, a "bias incident" includes any conduct, speech, or expression that the constituent institution, group, or committee labels as intimidating, demeaning, mocking, degrading, or marginalizing an individual or group based on the perceived or actual identity of that individual or group." SECTION 5.
Page 4 Senate Bill 558-Second Edition
Page 4 Senate Bill 558-First Edition
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How this bill changes current law

7 changes Share ↗

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

The bill adds new policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion to the governance of higher education institutions in North Carolina and prohibits certain practices related to speech and reporting.

  • G.S. 116-11

    (9c) The Board of Governors shall adopt a policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion at constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina that complies with Article 39 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes.

    This adds a requirement for the Board of Governors to create a policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • G.S. 115D-5

    (aa) The State Board shall adopt a policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion at community colleges that complies with Article 39 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes.

    This requires the State Board of Community Colleges to create a policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • G.S. 115D-5

    (bb) The State Board shall adopt a policy prohibiting community colleges from establishing, maintaining, or otherwise implementing a process for reporting or investigating offensive or unwanted speech that is protected by the First Amendment, including satire or speech labeled as microaggression.

    This prohibits community colleges from enforcing policies that report or investigate protected speech.

  • Chapter 116

    Article 39. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

    This establishes a new Article in Chapter 116 focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • G.S. 116-417

    (a) Public institutions of higher education shall not do any of the following: (1) Engage in or advocate for discriminatory practices. (2) Compel students, professors, administrators, or other employees to affirm or profess belief in divisive concepts. (3) Endorse divisive concepts. (4) Maintain an office, division, or other unit (i) promoting discriminatory practices or divisive concepts or (ii) referred to as or named diversity, equity, and inclusion. (5) Employ or assign an employee whose duties for a public institution of higher education include promoting discriminatory practices or divisive concepts. (6) Require completion of a course related to divisive concepts for purposes of awarding a degree or completion of a program, except as provided in subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this section.

    This prohibits certain actions by public institutions regarding discriminatory practices and divisive concepts.

  • G.S. 116-417

    (c) Each public institution of higher education shall certify annually in writing by September 1 to the applicable governing board that the public institution of higher education fully complies with the requirements of this section, including any actions taken to achieve compliance.

    This requires annual compliance certifications from public institutions regarding the new diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

  • G.S. 116-300

    (9) The constituent institution shall not establish, maintain, or otherwise implement a process for reporting or investigating offensive or unwanted speech that is protected by the First Amendment, including satire or speech labeled as microaggression.

    This further prohibits institutions from creating processes to report protected speech.

Action History

  1. Veto Overridden

  2. Ch. SL 2026-21

  3. Withdrawn From Cal

  4. Placed On Cal For 04/21/2026

  5. Withdrawn From Cal

  6. Placed On Cal For 04/06/2026

  7. Withdrawn From Cal

  8. Placed On Cal For 03/09/2026

  9. Withdrawn From Cal

  10. Placed On Cal For 02/09/2026

  11. Withdrawn From Cal

  12. Placed On Cal For 01/12/2026

  13. Withdrawn From Cal

  14. Placed On Cal For 12/15/2025

  15. Withdrawn From Cal

  16. Placed On Cal For 11/17/2025

  17. Withdrawn From Cal

  18. Placed On Cal For 10/21/2025

  19. Withdrawn From Com

  20. Placed On Cal For 10/20/2025

  21. Withdrawn From Cal

  22. Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  23. Withdrawn From Cal

  24. Placed On Cal For 09/22/2025

  25. Withdrawn From Cal

  26. Placed On Cal For 08/26/2025

  27. Veto Overridden

  28. Veto Received from Senate

  29. Placed On Cal For 07/30/2025

  30. Withdrawn From Com

  31. Placed On Cal For 07/29/2025

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

  33. Vetoed 07/03/2025

  34. Pres. To Gov. 6/27/2025

  35. Ratified

  36. Passed 2nd Reading

  37. Passed 3rd Reading

  38. Ordered Enrolled

  39. Reptd Fav

  40. Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  41. Reptd Fav

  42. Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)

  43. Placed On Cal For 06/25/2025

  44. Withdrawn From Com

  45. Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  46. Passed 1st Reading

  47. Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  48. Regular Message Sent To House

  49. Regular Message Received From Senate

  50. Amend Tabled A1

  51. Amend Tabled A2

  52. Passed 2nd Reading

  53. Passed 3rd Reading

  54. Reptd Fav

  55. Reptd Fav Com Substitute

  56. Com Substitute Adopted

  57. Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  58. Passed 1st Reading

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

  60. Withdrawn From Com

  61. Re-ref to Education/Higher Education. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

  62. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 21 co-sponsors · 156 not signed on · 49 voted No

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (21)

Not signed on (156)

156 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 156 →

"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

Votes

M11 Concur

Passed 73 Yea · 41 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 33001
U 1100
Unaffiliated 161000
Republican 53005
Total 734106
% of votes cast 61%34%0%5%
How each member voted (120)
Member Party Vote
Wray — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Cleveland — Yea
Crutchfield — Yea
Elmore — Yea
Faircloth — Yea
Fontenot — Yea
Lowery — Yea
Mills — Yea
Moore — Yea
Reeder — Yea
Saine — Yea
Sasser — Yea
CarsonSmith — Yea
Sossamon — Yea
Autry — Nay
Clemmons — Nay
Gill — Nay
Harris — Nay
Lucas — Nay
Rudow — Nay
CharlesSmith — Nay
Staton-Williams — Nay
vonHaefen — Nay
F. Jackson — Nay
K. Baker — Yea
Abe Jones Democratic Nay
Allen Buansi Democratic Nay
Allison A. Dahle Democratic Nay
Amber M. Baker Democratic Nay
Amos L. Quick, III Democratic Nay
B. Ray Jeffers Democratic Nay
Becky Carney Democratic Nay
Brandon Lofton Democratic Nay
Carolyn G. Logan Democratic Not Voting
Cecil Brockman Democratic Yea
Cynthia Ball Democratic Nay
Deb Butler Democratic Nay
Eric Ager Democratic Nay
Garland E. Pierce Democratic Yea
Gloristine Brown Democratic Nay
James Roberson Democratic Nay
Joe John Democratic Nay
Kanika Brown Democratic Nay
Laura Budd Democratic Nay
Lindsey Prather Democratic Nay
Marcia Morey Democratic Nay
Maria Cervania Democratic Nay
Mary Belk Democratic Nay
Pricey Harrison Democratic Nay
Renée A. Price Democratic Nay
Robert T. Reives, II Democratic Nay
Sarah Crawford Democratic Nay
Shelly Willingham Democratic Yea
Terence Everitt Democratic Nay
Terry M. Brown Jr. Democratic Nay
Tim Longest Democratic Nay
Vernetta Alston Democratic Nay
Ya Liu Democratic Nay
Zack Hawkins Democratic Nay
A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. Republican Yea
Allen Chesser Republican Yea
Ben T. Moss, Jr. Republican Yea
Bill Ward Republican Yea
Brenden H. Jones Republican Yea
Brian Biggs Republican Yea
Celeste C. Cairns Republican Yea
Charles W. Miller Republican Yea
Chris Humphrey Republican Yea
David Willis Republican Yea
Dean Arp Republican Yea
Dennis Riddell Republican Yea
Destin Hall Republican Not Voting
Diane Wheatley Republican Yea
Donna McDowell White Republican Yea
Donnie Loftis Republican Yea
Donny Lambeth Republican Yea
Dudley Greene Republican Not Voting
Edward C. Goodwin Republican Yea
Erin Paré Republican Yea
Frank Iler Republican Yea
Harry Warren Republican Yea
Howard Penny, Jr. Republican Yea
Hugh Blackwell Republican Yea
Jake Johnson Republican Yea
Jay Adams Republican Yea
Jeff Zenger Republican Yea
Jeffrey C. McNeely Republican Yea
Jennifer Balkcom Republican Yea
Jerry "Alan" Branson Republican Yea
Jimmy Dixon Republican Yea
John A. Torbett Republican Yea
John R. Bell, IV Republican Yea
John Sauls Republican Yea
Joseph Pike Republican Yea
Julia C. Howard Republican Not Voting
Karl E. Gillespie Republican Yea
Keith Kidwell Republican Yea
Kelly E. Hastings Republican Yea
Kyle Hall Republican Yea
Larry C. Strickland Republican Yea
Larry W. Potts Republican Yea
Mark Brody Republican Yea
Mark Pless Republican Yea
Matthew Winslow Republican Yea
Mike Clampitt Republican Yea
Mitchell S. Setzer Republican Yea
Neal Jackson Republican Yea
Phil Shepard Republican Yea
Ray Pickett Republican Yea
Sam Watford Republican Yea
Sarah Stevens Republican Yea
Stephen M. Ross Republican Yea
Steve Tyson Republican Yea
Ted Davis, Jr. Republican Yea
Tricia Ann Cotham Republican Not Voting
W. Ted Alexander Republican Not Voting
William D. Brisson Republican Yea
Carla D. Cunningham U Yea
Nasif Majeed U Nay

Official roll call →

R2 Ruled Mat'l M11 Concur

Passed 68 Yea · 45 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 141901
Unaffiliated 17900
U 1001
Republican 361705
Total 684507
% of votes cast 57%38%0%6%
How each member voted (120)
Member Party Vote
Clemmons — Yea
Harris — Yea
Lucas — Yea
CharlesSmith — Yea
Staton-Williams — Yea
Wray — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Crutchfield — Yea
Elmore — Yea
Faircloth — Yea
Lowery — Yea
Mills — Yea
Moore — Yea
Saine — Yea
Sasser — Yea
Autry — Nay
Gill — Nay
Rudow — Nay
vonHaefen — Nay
Cleveland — Nay
Fontenot — Nay
Reeder — Nay
CarsonSmith — Nay
Sossamon — Nay
F. Jackson — Yea
K. Baker — Yea
Abe Jones Democratic Nay
Allen Buansi Democratic Nay
Allison A. Dahle Democratic Nay
Amber M. Baker Democratic Yea
Amos L. Quick, III Democratic Yea
B. Ray Jeffers Democratic Yea
Becky Carney Democratic Nay
Brandon Lofton Democratic Yea
Carolyn G. Logan Democratic Not Voting
Cecil Brockman Democratic Yea
Cynthia Ball Democratic Nay
Deb Butler Democratic Nay
Eric Ager Democratic Nay
Garland E. Pierce Democratic Yea
Gloristine Brown Democratic Nay
James Roberson Democratic Yea
Joe John Democratic Nay
Kanika Brown Democratic Nay
Laura Budd Democratic Nay
Lindsey Prather Democratic Nay
Marcia Morey Democratic Nay
Maria Cervania Democratic Nay
Mary Belk Democratic Nay
Pricey Harrison Democratic Nay
Renée A. Price Democratic Nay
Robert T. Reives, II Democratic Yea
Sarah Crawford Democratic Nay
Shelly Willingham Democratic Yea
Terence Everitt Democratic Yea
Terry M. Brown Jr. Democratic Yea
Tim Longest Democratic Nay
Vernetta Alston Democratic Yea
Ya Liu Democratic Yea
Zack Hawkins Democratic Yea
A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. Republican Yea
Allen Chesser Republican Yea
Ben T. Moss, Jr. Republican Nay
Bill Ward Republican Nay
Brenden H. Jones Republican Yea
Brian Biggs Republican Nay
Celeste C. Cairns Republican Yea
Charles W. Miller Republican Yea
Chris Humphrey Republican Yea
David Willis Republican Not Voting
Dean Arp Republican Yea
Dennis Riddell Republican Nay
Destin Hall Republican Not Voting
Diane Wheatley Republican Nay
Donna McDowell White Republican Nay
Donnie Loftis Republican Nay
Donny Lambeth Republican Yea
Dudley Greene Republican Not Voting
Edward C. Goodwin Republican Yea
Erin Paré Republican Yea
Frank Iler Republican Yea
Harry Warren Republican Yea
Howard Penny, Jr. Republican Yea
Hugh Blackwell Republican Nay
Jake Johnson Republican Yea
Jay Adams Republican Yea
Jeff Zenger Republican Yea
Jeffrey C. McNeely Republican Yea
Jennifer Balkcom Republican Nay
Jerry "Alan" Branson Republican Nay
Jimmy Dixon Republican Nay
John A. Torbett Republican Yea
John R. Bell, IV Republican Yea
John Sauls Republican Yea
Joseph Pike Republican Nay
Julia C. Howard Republican Not Voting
Karl E. Gillespie Republican Nay
Keith Kidwell Republican Yea
Kelly E. Hastings Republican Yea
Kyle Hall Republican Yea
Larry C. Strickland Republican Yea
Larry W. Potts Republican Yea
Mark Brody Republican Yea
Mark Pless Republican Yea
Matthew Winslow Republican Yea
Mike Clampitt Republican Yea
Mitchell S. Setzer Republican Nay
Neal Jackson Republican Nay
Phil Shepard Republican Yea
Ray Pickett Republican Yea
Sam Watford Republican Yea
Sarah Stevens Republican Yea
Stephen M. Ross Republican Nay
Steve Tyson Republican Yea
Ted Davis, Jr. Republican Nay
Tricia Ann Cotham Republican Yea
W. Ted Alexander Republican Not Voting
William D. Brisson Republican Yea
Carla D. Cunningham U Not Voting
Nasif Majeed U Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights 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 558?
SB 558 is sponsored by Eddie D. Settle (Republican), Norman W. Sanderson (Republican), Bill Rabon (Republican), Paul Newton (Republican), Timothy D. Moffitt (Republican), Michael V. Lee (Republican), Michael A. Lazzara (Republican), Mark Hollo (Republican), Ralph Hise (Republican), Bobby Hanig (Republican), Amy S. Galey (Republican), Carl Ford (Republican), Warren Daniel (Republican), David W. Craven, Jr. (Republican), Bob Brinson (Republican), Lisa S. Barnes (Republican), W. Ted Alexander (Republican), Kevin Corbin (Republican), Todd Johnson (Republican), Dana Jones (Republican), Brad Overcash (Republican), Phil Berger (Republican), and Brent Jackson (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 558?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 25, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 558?
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