A new bill filed by State Rep. Amber M. Baker seeks to promote civic engagement by establishing a Legislative Building Field Trip Pilot Program for public school students, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 325 on March 6 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Legislative Building Field Trip Pilot Program.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes the Legislative Building Field Trip Pilot Program for public school students in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years, aiming to foster civic engagement through annual school trips to the Legislative Building. By August 1 each year, the Department of Public Instruction will issue application guidelines, and applications are due by October 1. Selection focuses on schools in tier 1 counties, with decisions made by November 1. Selected schools may receive up to $2,000 for transportation costs, such as bus rental, fuel, or driver fees. An annual report, due by Feb. 15, will detail grant usage and program participation statistics. The bill allocates $1.5 million annually from the General Fund for the program, effective July 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Frances Jackson, PhD proposed the most bills (nine) 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.
Baker graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a BS.
Baker, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 72nd House district, replacing previous state representative Derwin Montgomery.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 325 | 03/06/2025 | Legislative Building Field Trip Pilot Program. |
| Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 340 | 03/06/2025 | Universal AIG Screening in Middle Schools. |
| Amber M. Baker, Carolyn G. Logan, and James Roberson | HB 249 | 02/27/2025 | Diversity in Pickleball Pilot Program. |
| Amber M. Baker, Carolyn G. Logan, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 168 | 02/21/2025 | North Carolina CROWN Act. |
