AN ACT to require schools to provide evidence‑based nicotine, hemp, and vapor product use MATERIALS and to direct DISCIPLINARY REPERCUSSIONS for studentS found vaping.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Article 29A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115C‑407.1.  Definitions.

For the purposes of this Article, the following definitions apply:

(1)        Hemp product. – Products derived from hemp, as defined in G.S. 90‑87, and their synthetic counterparts that are designed, manufactured, or sold to be inhaled or otherwise consumed, including the substances commonly known as delta‑8, delta‑9, and CBD.

(2)        Nicotine product. – Includes any of the following:

a.         Tobacco product. – Any product that contains tobacco and is intended for human consumption. For purposes of this section, the term includes an alternative nicotine product, vapor product, consumable product, or components of a vapor product.

b.         Alternative nicotine product. – Any noncombustible product that contains nicotine, whether natural or synthetic, but does not contain tobacco and is intended for human consumption whether chewed, absorbed, dissolved, ingested, or by other means. This term does not include a vapor product or any product regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration under Chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

(3)        Vapor product. – Any noncombustible product that employs a mechanical heating element, battery, or electronic circuit regardless of shape or size and that can be used to heat a consumable product. The term includes an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, and electronic pipe. The term does not include any product regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration under Chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 115C‑407 reads as rewritten:

§ 115C‑407.  Policy prohibiting tobacco nicotine, hemp, and vapor product use in school buildings, grounds, and at school‑sponsored events.

(a)        Not later than August 1, 2008, local boards of education Governing bodies of public school units shall adopt, implement, and enforce adopt a written policy prohibiting at all times the use of any tobacco nicotine, hemp, and vapor product by any person in school buildings, in school facilities, on school campuses, and in or on any other school property owned or operated by the local school administrative public school unit. The policy shall further prohibit the use of all tobacco nicotine, hemp, and vapor products by persons attending a school‑sponsored event at a location not listed in this subsection when in the presence of students or school personnel or in an area where smoking is otherwise prohibited by law.

(b)        The policy shall include at least all of the following elements:

(1)        Adequate notice to students, parents, the public, and school personnel of the policy.

(2)        Posting of signs prohibiting at all times the use of tobacco nicotine, hemp, and vapor products by any person in and on school property.

(3)        Requirements that school personnel enforce the policy.

(c)        The policy may permit tobacco nicotine, hemp, and vapor products to be included in instructional or research activities in public school buildings if the activity is conducted or supervised by the faculty member overseeing the instruction or research and the activity does not include smoking, chewing, or otherwise ingesting the tobacco nicotine, hemp, or vapor product.

(d)       The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission Department of Health and Human Services shall work with local boards of education governing bodies of public school units to provide assistance with the implementation of this policy including providing evidence‑based, age‑appropriate information regarding smoking nicotine, hemp, and vapor cessation and use prevention resources. resources to students at the beginning of each school year. Students shall be able to access evidence‑based, age‑appropriate nicotine, hemp, and vapor product cessation and use prevention materials throughout the school year.

(d1)     Nothing in this section, G.S. 143‑595 through G.S. 143‑601, or any other section prohibits a local board of education governing body of a public school unit from adopting and enforcing a more restrictive policy on the use of tobacco nicotine, hemp, and vapor products in school buildings, in school facilities, on school campuses, or at school‑related or school‑sponsored events, and in or on other school property.

(e)        Any information or resources given or made available to students pursuant to this section shall be first approved by the Department of Health and Human Services before distribution. In approving materials pursuant to this section, the Department of Health and Human Services shall ensure that nicotine, hemp, and vapor product cessation and use prevention materials are evidence‑based and shall identify the ages or grades of students for which the material is appropriate. A school may request specific material be reviewed for possible approval by the Department of Health and Human Services.

SECTION 2.(a)  Article 27 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115C‑391.5.  Possession of nicotine, hemp, and vapor products.

(a)        The Code of Student Conduct developed by the governing body of the public school unit shall include a policy that if any student under the age of 21 is found in possession of a nicotine, hemp, or vapor product, as defined in G.S. 115C‑407.1, the product shall be confiscated. The school shall notify the parent or legal guardian of a student who had an item confiscated pursuant to this section within 24 hours of the confiscation.

(b)        For the first offense of being in possession of a nicotine, hemp, or vapor product, the following actions shall be taken:

(1)        A school counselor or other school‑based mental health services provider shall provide to the student and the parent of the student evidence‑based, age‑appropriate nicotine, hemp, and vapor product cessation information, including age‑appropriate cessation services, including materials, information on programs, or referrals for treatment.

(2)        At least one of the following:

a.         A student meeting and individual student assessment with a health educator, school nurse, counselor, or designated staff with parents and/or guardians to discuss nicotine, hemp, or vapor product use and school policy.

b.         Student participation in an evidence‑based, self‑paced nicotine, hemp, and vapor product use education program.

(c)        For the second offense of being in possession of a nicotine, hemp, or vapor product, a school shall follow the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and the school shall take disciplinary action as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct and school discipline policies.

(d)       For a third or subsequent offense of being in possession of a nicotine, hemp, or vapor product, a school shall follow the provisions of subsection (b) of this section; however, requiring educational community service shall be an additional option under subdivision (b)(2) of this section.

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑12(27) reads as rewritten:

(27)    Reporting Dropout Rates, Corporal Punishment, Suspensions, Expulsions, Alternative Placements, and Alternative Placements. Possession. – The State Board shall report by March 15 of each year to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the numbers of students who have dropped out of school, been subjected to corporal punishment, been suspended, been expelled, been reassigned for disciplinary purposes, or been provided alternative education services. services, or been disciplined or provided medical intervention for a violation of G.S. 115C‑391.5. The data shall be reported in a disaggregated manner, reflecting the local school administrative unit, race, gender, grade level, ethnicity, and disability status of each affected student. Such data shall be readily available to the public. The State Board shall not include students that have been expelled from school when calculating the dropout rate. The Board shall maintain a separate record of the number of students who are expelled from school and the reasons for the expulsion.

SECTION 3.  No later than September 15, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services shall publish on its website nicotine, hemp, and vapor product awareness information, including the various types of products containing nicotine or hemp and the health issues associated with nicotine, hemp, and vapor products. The Department shall also publish and maintain a list of evidence‑based resources for use by public schools to provide nicotine, hemp, and vapor product cessation and use prevention information and programs.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.