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Read. Follow. Verify.North Carolina Allocates $5 Million to Expand Fatherhood Programs and Community Grants
Last action · April 7, 2025: Ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: David Willis and 34 others
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What This Bill Would Do
North Carolina House Bill 780 appropriates $5 million in for the 2025-2026 to expand fatherhood initiatives, including a $2 million grant to Family First, Inc. for All Pro Dad chapters and $3 million to the Department of Health and Human Services for a statewide media campaign and community-based grants effective July 1, 2025.
The measure directs millions in state funds toward fatherhood engagement programs, establishing new grant criteria for community organizations and requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with a nonprofit program manager within six months of enactment.
- House Bill 780 was introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly during the 2025-2026 legislative session by Representative Willis. context
- State appropriations for nonprofit-run fatherhood initiatives reflect ongoing legislative interest in addressing single-parent household demographics and child welfare metrics. context
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.
Fathers and Father Figures
Fathers in the state gain access to new information, resources, media campaigns, and services aimed at enhancing parenting skills and involvement.
Family First, Inc.
The nonprofit receives a directed grant of $2,000,000 to expand its All Pro Dad fatherhood program in North Carolina schools and communities.
Department of Health and Human Services
The Department is tasked with contracting a program manager, administering community grants, and implementing program requirements within six months.
Nonprofit Community-Based Organizations
Organizations are eligible to apply for grants to provide employment assistance, child support guidance, health care access, and parenting education for fathers.
Key Facts
- The bill appropriates $2,000,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management for a directed grant to Family First, Inc.
- Family First, Inc. must register as an entity to conduct business in North Carolina and allocate funds to expand All Pro Dad chapters in schools, hold engagement events, and distribute parenting resources.
- The bill creates the Responsible Fatherhood NC Act under Article 2 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes.
- The Department of Health and Human Services must contract with a qualified nonprofit organization to serve as Program Manager for a statewide media campaign, fatherhood resources, and promotion of related state programs.
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- The Department of Health and Human Services is appropriated $3,000,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the Act, using up to $2,000,000 for the Program Manager and the remainder for community-based grants.
- Grant priorities for community organizations are based on local needs such as unemployment rates, incarceration rates, housing instability, single-parent households, public benefit recipients, graduation rates, and academic achievement.
- Grants to nonprofit community-based organizations are awarded for a maximum of three years, with subsequent funding contingent on compliance and performance.
- The Department of Health and Human Services has six months from the effective date to implement the requirements outlined in Section 1 of the act.
- The act becomes effective on July 1, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much total funding is appropriated by this bill?
Who is eligible to receive community-based grants under the Responsible Fatherhood NC Act?
What is the role of the Program Manager under the new act?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Apr 7, 2025HouseRef to the Com on Health, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Apr 7, 2025HousePassed 1st Reading
- Apr 3, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Establishment of Dedicated State Fatherhood Act
The legislation creates a formal statutory framework under Chapter 108A dedicated to responsible fatherhood programs and targeted community grants.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.ncleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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