Rep. Pierce files bill in North Carolina House to expand child care and education programs

A new bill filed by State Rep. Pierce seeks to expand early childhood education and child care support programs across North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 316 on March 5 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Child Care Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill reenacts the North Carolina Child Tax Credit, expands the NC Pre-K program, and increases subsidized child care funding. It allocates $200 million annually from the General Fund for 2025-27 to increase Pre-K slots by 32,000 for eligible four-year-olds and an additional $35 million annually for subsidized child care. The bill provides free lunches in public schools using a $115 million allocation for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with additional funds to cover nutrition program debts. Community colleges receive $10 million to support public child care programs, requiring reporting on program feasibility. It mandates a study on establishing a high school child care apprenticeship program, with a report due by Dec. 31, 2026. Parts of this bill become effective beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and the rest on July 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Carolyn G. Logan proposed the most bills (11) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Pierce graduated from Fayetteville State University with a BS.

Pierce, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2005 to represent the state’s 48th House district, replacing previous state representative Donald Bonner.