AN ACT to expand north carolina's workforce by providing in‑state tuition to north carolina high school graduates who meet certain criteria.

Whereas, a one percentage point (1%) increase in the postsecondary attainment rate would have resulted in over five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) in additional economic growth for North Carolina over just one year according to the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis; and

Whereas, over eighty percent (80%) of the State's employers reported difficulty in finding employees for jobs requiring industry‑valued credentials, and these high‑skills jobs are expected to increase by more than eleven percent (11%) in the next six years; and

Whereas, while North Carolina's employers report difficulty in finding skilled employees, postsecondary enrollment for The University of North Carolina constituent institutions and North Carolina community colleges has fallen on average by 2.7% since 2019; and

Whereas, North Carolina must pursue multiple strategies to increase postsecondary enrollment so the State can have more potential employees entering the workforce with industry‑valued credentials; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 116‑143.1 is amended by adding the following new subsections to read:

(n)      Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person who meets all of the following qualifications shall be eligible to be charged the in‑State tuition rate:

(1)        The person graduated and received a high school diploma from a school within North Carolina that is not a nonpublic residential school.

(2)        The person enrolled in the institution of higher education in the school year immediately following his or her graduation and receipt of a high school diploma.

(3)        The person attended North Carolina public or nonpublic schools for a minimum of four consecutive years immediately prior to high school graduation and receipt of a high school diploma.

(4)        The person holds an unexpired North Carolina drivers license or special identification card issued under G.S. 20‑37.7.

(5)        The person has received a social security number and card from the United States Social Security Administration.

This subsection does not make a person a resident of North Carolina for any other purpose.

(o)        A person who is eligible to be charged the in‑State tuition rate as provided in subsection (n) of this section shall provide evidence of his or her unexpired North Carolina drivers license or special identification card at the beginning of each semester of enrollment to continue to be eligible to be charged the in‑State tuition rate.

(p)        Any information obtained as part of the process of applying for the in‑State tuition rate pursuant to subsection (n) or (o) of this section shall be confidential and is not a public record.

SECTION 2.  G.S. 116‑143.4 reads as rewritten:

§ 116‑143.4.  Admissions status of persons charged in‑State tuition.

(a)        A person eligible for the in‑State tuition rate pursuant to this Article shall be considered an in‑State applicant for the purpose of admission; provided that, admission. However, a person eligible for in‑State tuition pursuant to G.S. 116‑143.3(c) shall be considered an in‑State applicant for the purpose of admission only if at the time of seeking admission he the person is enrolled in a high school located in North Carolina or enrolled in an adult high school equivalency diploma program in an institution located in this State.

(b)        A person eligible for the in‑State tuition rate pursuant to G.S. 116‑143.1(n) shall not be considered an in‑State applicant for the purposes of admission to a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 academic year.