A new bill filed by State Rep. Kanika Brown in the North Carolina House seeks to increase financial support for small county school systems by adjusting allotment amounts, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 457 on March 19 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Increase Small County Funding.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill seeks to increase funding for small county school systems in North Carolina by changing the allotment amounts based on allotted Average Daily Membership (ADM). The bill specifies a new allotment schedule, raising the financial support for eligible county school administrative units across various ADM ranges. For example, counties with an ADM of 0-1,300 will receive $2.5 million, up from $1.8 million. The legislation appropriates $20.96 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2025-26 fiscal year to support the implementation of these changes. This act is set to become effective July 1, 2025.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Renée A. Price proposed the most bills (19) 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.
Brown, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 71st House district, replacing previous state representative Evelyn Terry.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanika Brown, Howard Penny, Jr., and Renée A. Price | HB 457 | 03/19/2025 | Increase Small County Funding. |
| Kanika Brown, Carla D. Cunningham, Julia Greenfield, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 452 | 03/18/2025 | Revise Law/Obstruction of Health Facility. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 392 | 03/13/2025 | Funds/Forsyth United Way/Summer Learning. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 393 | 03/13/2025 | Funds for One Love Festival. |
| Kanika Brown, Amos L. Quick, III, Becky Carney, and Carla D. Cunningham | HB 398 | 03/13/2025 | Enact KinCare & Safe Days. |
| Kanika Brown, Aisha O. Dew, Bryan Cohn, and Carolyn G. Logan | HB 374 | 03/11/2025 | NCARCOG Funding/Operations Improvements. |
| Kanika Brown, Julie von Haefen, Pricey Harrison, and Zack Hawkins | HB 344 | 03/10/2025 | Litter Reduction Act of 2025. |
| Kanika Brown, Marcia Morey, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 345 | 03/10/2025 | Rights of Nature/Certain River Basins. |
| Kanika Brown, Bryan Cohn, Carolyn G. Logan, and Sarah Crawford | HB 269 | 03/03/2025 | Workforce Freedom and Protection Act. |
| Kanika Brown, Bryan Cohn, Sarah Crawford, and Tracy Clark | HB 115 | 02/12/2025 | Child Care Facility Tax Exemption. |
