Rep. Biggs files North Carolina House bill to expand principal fellows program

A new bill filed by State Rep. Brian Biggs in the North Carolina House aims to expand principal training and increase support for future school leaders statewide, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 1143 on April 29 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Principal Fellows & MSA Intern Stipends.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill expands the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program by adding competitive development grants of up to $250,000 a year for up to two preparation programs to create innovative principal training, clarifying grant terms, performance evaluation and public sharing of materials. It increases allowable trust fund spending for administration and statewide leadership programming and appropriates $5 million in recurring funds starting in the 2026-27 fiscal year to raise the number of principal fellow candidates, with a goal that 55% of principals be program graduates. The bill also creates 10-month stipends for full-time master’s in school administration interns beginning in 2027-28, requires service or cash repayment of up to $20,000 for most recipients, allows limited administrative retention of funds, and mandates annual reporting. Most provisions take effect July 1, 2026.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Biggs proposed the most bills (57) 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.

Biggs, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 70th House district, replacing previous state representative Patricia Hurley.