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HB 959NORTH CAROLINASession 2025State Billpassed both

Passed

North Carolina mandates internet safety policies and social media literacy instruction in public schools

Original title: Various Education Changes.

Last action · July 1, 2025: Ch. SL 2025-38Sponsors: Hugh Blackwell and 4 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Local school boards in North Carolina are required to adopt internet safety policies that block student access to social media on school networks and devices, ban the TikTok platform entirely on school-owned devices, and provide mandatory instruction on social media and mental health starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

Why it matters

Students face mandatory restrictions on school-provided internet and devices, while public school districts must update internet filters and integrate structured lessons on online safety and mental health into their curriculums.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Local boards of education

Local school boards must adopt new internet safety policies and establish mandatory social media literacy instruction across elementary, middle, and high schools.

Directly affected

Public school students

Students face restrictions on accessing social media and TikTok on school networks and devices, while receiving mandatory instruction on online safety and mental health.

Key Facts

Local school boards of education must adopt policies limiting student internet access to age-appropriate materials and protecting student data privacy.
Student access to social media platforms via school-provided internet or devices is prohibited, except when expressly directed by a teacher for educational purposes.
The TikTok platform or any successor platform is strictly banned on devices owned or provided by local school administrative units.
Public schools must provide instruction on social media and its effects on health once during elementary school, once during middle school, and twice during high school.

Show all 6 facts

Required social media instruction topics include the negative effects on mental health, misinformation, behavioral manipulation, online permanency, personal security, cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and human trafficking.
The act takes effect when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can students use social media on school computers if a teacher allows it?

Yes, students may access social media platforms through school-provided internet access when expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes.

How often will students receive instruction on social media and mental health?

Instruction must be provided once during elementary school, once during middle school, and twice during high school.

Does the law apply to personal student devices connected to school Wi-Fi?

The law requires local boards of education to adopt policies for student access to internet provided by the school district, including prohibiting student access to social media through internet access provided by the unit.

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Where This Stands

Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

38 actions

Jun 25, 2025House
Ordered Enrolled
Jun 25, 2025Senate
Conf Report Adopted
Jun 24, 2025Senate
Conf Com Reported
Jun 24, 2025House
Conf Report Adopted
Jun 24, 2025House
Added to Calendar
Jun 24, 2025House
Conf Com Reported

Show 32 earlier actions

Jun 19, 2025Senate
Conf Com Appointed
Jun 18, 2025House
Conf Com Appointed
Jun 11, 2025House
Failed Concur In S Com Sub
Jun 5, 2025House
Placed On Cal For 06/11/2025
Jun 5, 2025House
Cal Pursuant 36(b)
Jun 4, 2025House
Regular Message Received For Concurrence in S Com Sub
Jun 4, 2025Senate
Regular Message Sent To House
Jun 3, 2025Senate
Passed 3rd Reading
Jun 3, 2025Senate
Passed 2nd Reading
Jun 3, 2025Senate
Amend Tabled A3
Jun 3, 2025Senate
Amend Tabled A2
Jun 3, 2025Senate
Amend Tabled A1
Jun 2, 2025Senate
Reptd Fav
May 21, 2025Senate
Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 21, 2025Senate
Com Substitute Adopted
May 21, 2025Senate
Reptd Fav Com Substitute
May 19, 2025Senate
Re-ref to Education/Higher Education. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 19, 2025Senate
Withdrawn From Com
May 8, 2025Senate
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 8, 2025Senate
Passed 1st Reading
May 8, 2025Senate
Special Message Received From House
May 8, 2025House
Special Message Sent To Senate
May 7, 2025House
Passed 3rd Reading
May 7, 2025House
Passed 2nd Reading
May 7, 2025House
Added to Calendar
May 7, 2025House
Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)
May 7, 2025House
Reptd Fav
May 6, 2025House
Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
May 6, 2025House
Reptd Fav Com Substitute
Apr 14, 2025House
Ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 14, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Apr 10, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

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