A bill introduced by State Rep. Lindsey Prather in the North Carolina House seeks to bolster public education by increasing resources for students, educators, and school infrastructure, according to the North Carolina State House.
Filed as HB 1017 on April 21 during the 2025 regular session, the measure carries the short title: ‘Sound Basic Education for Every Child.’
Below is our summary, based on the actual bill text, and may include explanation for clarification of its provisions.
The proposal revamps North Carolina’s public education system starting July 1, 2026, with a goal of ensuring a “sound basic education” for all children. It dedicates billions in funding toward new and expanded initiatives for recruiting and retaining teachers and principals, increasing pay, reforming licensure, professional development, and offering additional support to schools with high needs or low performance. School funding formulas would be revised to boost allocations for children with disabilities, students from low-wealth or at-risk populations, English learners, as well as to enhance health, instructional support, and charter schools. The bill also increases early childhood offerings, including NC Pre-K, child care subsidies, Smart Start, early intervention, and home visiting programs, and authorizes $4 billion in state bonds for school facility improvements.
Among the bill’s four sponsors, Zack Hawkins sponsored the highest number of bills (50) in the 2025 regular session.
North Carolina bills follow a multi-step process before they become law. Legislation begins when a lawmaker files a bill, after which it is sent to committee for consideration. Each chamber must read the bill three times; if one chamber amends the bill after passage by the other, an agreement on the final version is required. Once identical versions are passed, the legislation goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 days if the legislature is out of session) to sign, veto, or allow it to become law without a signature.
Prather earned a BA from the University of North Carolina Asheville in 2008.
Elected in 2023, Prather, a Democrat, now serves the state’s 115th House district, succeeding former representative John Ager.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Zack Hawkins | HB 1017 | 04/21/2026 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 941 | 04/10/2025 | Expand & Enhance the Teaching Fellows Program. |
| Lindsey Prather, Jordan Lopez, Marcia Morey, and Tim Longest | HB 970 | 04/10/2025 | Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 863 | 04/09/2025 | Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1(b). |
| Lindsey Prather, Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Julie von Haefen | HB 807 | 04/07/2025 | Strong Public Schools for a Strong NC. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Phil Rubin | HB 815 | 04/07/2025 | Voucher School Accountability Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cecil Brockman, Cynthia Ball, and Phil Rubin | HB 816 | 04/07/2025 | Voucher School Transparency Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Beth Helfrich, Brandon Lofton, and Julie von Haefen | HB 651 | 04/01/2025 | Reduce Parent Copays/Child Care Subsidy/Funds. |
| Lindsey Prather, Allen Buansi, and Maria Cervania | HB 667 | 04/01/2025 | Reduce Barriers to College Completion. |
| Lindsey Prather, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 689 | 04/01/2025 | Expanding Workforce and Education Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, Eric Ager, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 599 | 03/31/2025 | Award NC Forest Service Pay Increase. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 531 | 03/26/2025 | Addressing NC’s Teacher Crisis/NTSP. |
| Lindsey Prather, Becky Carney, Carolyn G. Logan, and James Roberson | HB 550 | 03/26/2025 | Modify Mileage and Per Diem. |
| Lindsey Prather, Dante Pittman, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 507 | 03/25/2025 | The Children First Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Carla D. Cunningham, Julie von Haefen, and Renée A. Price | HB 500 | 03/24/2025 | NC Adopt ERA. |
| Lindsey Prather, Bryan Cohn, Robert T. Reives, II, and Vernetta Alston | HB 503 | 03/24/2025 | Don’t Tread on Me Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Beth Helfrich, Bryan Cohn, and Dante Pittman | HB 473 | 03/20/2025 | Right to IVF. |
| Lindsey Prather, Beth Helfrich, Julia Greenfield, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 474 | 03/20/2025 | Right to Use Contraception. |
| Lindsey Prather, Amos L. Quick, III, Cynthia Ball, and Julie von Haefen | HB 445 | 03/18/2025 | Fairness & Transparency in Education Salaries. |
| Lindsey Prather, Donny Lambeth, Julia C. Howard, and Pricey Harrison | HB 410 | 03/17/2025 | NCIOM Study/Medical Aid in Dying. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Zack Hawkins | HB 420 | 03/17/2025 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Lindsey Prather, Beth Helfrich, Marcia Morey, and Pricey Harrison | HB 322 | 03/06/2025 | Make General Assembly Records Public. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 228 | 02/26/2025 | City of Asheville/Funds for Study. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 238 | 02/26/2025 | Reimburse Buncombe Co. for Cost of Study. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 194 | 02/25/2025 | SchCalFlex/Asheville/Open Cal. |
| Lindsey Prather, Allen Buansi, Gloristine Brown, and Tim Longest | HB 181 | 02/24/2025 | Tax Relief for Working Families Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 104 | 02/11/2025 | SchCalFlex/Buncombe/Open Cal. |
| Lindsey Prather, Eric Ager, Mitchell S. Setzer, and Pricey Harrison | HB 84 | 02/10/2025 | The Pollinator Protection Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Marcia Morey, Pricey Harrison, and Zack Hawkins | HB 20 | 01/29/2025 | Fair Maps Act. |
