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NC S257: 2026 Appropriations Act.

Effective Jul 1, 2026 North Carolina · 2025–2026 session

Last verified Oct 12, 2026 · official bill text

S257 · where it stands

All steps complete
  1. Introduced Complete
  2. Passed first chamber Complete
  3. Passed both chambers Complete
  4. Enacted Complete
  5. Effective Since Jul 1, 2026
What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.

In one paragraph

North Carolina's 2026 Appropriations Act (S.L. 2026-41) includes Section 7.39, Safe and Responsible AI in Schools. The State Board must adopt K-12 AI literacy standards (responsible use, limits of AI, verifying outputs, privacy, safety with chatbots). DPI must write a model AI policy by Dec. 31, 2026, and local boards, charter, lab and other public schools must adopt AI use policies by June 30, 2027. DPI must keep an evaluation framework and public lists of AI tools, and all teachers must complete AI training by June 30, 2028. The act took effect July 1, 2026.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

AI ed-tech vendors selling to North Carolina schools face DPI's evaluation framework and public tool lists, and districts' new AI use policies will shape procurement.

Key provisions

  1. G.S. 115C-81.90(a1): State Board adopts K-12 AI literacy standards, reviewed annually; revised computer science standards apply from 2028-29
  2. G.S. 115C-102.13: DPI model AI policy by Dec. 31, 2026, including AI literacy (with education about nonconsensual intimate imagery), data privacy and acceptable use of AI and chatbots
  3. Local boards, charter schools, lab schools and other public school units adopt an AI use policy by June 30, 2027
  4. G.S. 115C-102.14: DPI keeps an evaluation framework for generative AI educational tools, a public list of reviewed tools and a public list of all AI tools used in schools
  5. The Friday Institute builds AI training modules; all teachers complete them by June 30, 2028
  6. The rest of this budget act is not AI-related

Latest legislative action

Jul 7, 2026. Ch. SL 2026-41 (signed by the Governor July 7, 2026)

Topics and industries

Related topics

AI in EducationAI in Government

Affected industries

EducationGovernmentTechnology

This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error

Related AI laws in North Carolina

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S640 AI Ethics and Literacy Across Education S747 AI Learning Agenda HB1036 Artificial Intelligence Task Force/Funds. H591 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH SEXUAL EXTORTION OFFENSES, TO UPDATE OFFENSES RELATED TO SEX H814 Neighborhood Occupantless Vehicle. H462 Personal Data Privacy/Social Media Safety

Same topic in other states

Utah SB84 Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity Amendments West Virginia HB5690 Creating a West Virginia Task Force on Artificial Intelligence California AB 2392 Public postsecondary education: generative artificial intelligence systems: proc Maryland SB597 Higher Education - Maryland Artificial Intelligence Partnership Colorado SB113 Artificial Intelligence Facial Recognition Illinois HB3563 DOIT-AI TASK FORCE