AN ACT to require eligible constituent institutions of the university of north carolina to regularly compete against one another in football and basketball.

Whereas, sports tourism is vital to the economy of North Carolina, and intrastate collegiate athletics generates millions of dollars in economic impact to the State; and

Whereas, it is the priority of the General Assembly to encourage intrastate collegiate athletics rivalries in order to promote economic development; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 116‑40.14.  Intrastate athletic competition.

(a)        Purpose. – The purpose of this section is to ensure that eligible constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina regularly compete against one another in eligible sports.

(b)        Definitions. – For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)        Eligible constituent institution. – A constituent institution of The University of North Carolina that fields a high‑level football team.

(2)        Eligible sport. – All of the following:

a.         Football.

b.         Men's basketball.

c.         Women's basketball.

(3)        High‑enrollment institution. – An eligible constituent institution with a full‑time equivalent enrollment in the fall semester of the 2023‑2024 academic year of 30,000 or more undergraduate and graduate students.

(4)        High‑level football team. – A football team that competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of Division I competition of the National Collegiate Athletic Association or a successor grouping that represents the highest level of intercollegiate football competition in the United States.

(5)        Home game. – A game held at a site selected by the hosting constituent institution, including a neutral site.

(c)        Competition Required. – A high‑enrollment institution shall do all of the following in each eligible sport:

(1)        Every academic year, play at least one home or one away game against (i) another high‑enrollment institution and (ii) an eligible constituent institution that is not a high‑enrollment institution.

(2)        Every six academic years, play at least one home and one away game against each eligible constituent institution that is not a high‑enrollment institution.

(3)        A high‑enrollment institution shall alternate home and away games that are scheduled against the same eligible constituent institution that is not a high‑enrollment institution.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to inform eligible constituent institutions and members of the public about the intrastate athletic competition required by G.S. 116‑40.14, as enacted by this act.

SECTION 3.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2024. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 academic year.