Rep. Ward files bill in North Carolina House to address HBCU infrastructure and student support

The new bill filed by State Rep. Bill Ward aims to strengthen HBCUs’ infrastructure, increase student aid, and boost workforce preparation across North Carolina’s minority-serving colleges, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 1133 on April 29 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘HBCU/HMSI Omnibus.’

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

In essence, this bill creates a legislative study committee to assess infrastructure needs and environmental risks at North Carolina HBCUs and establishes a permanent Completion Assistance Program providing up to $1,000 a year to help eligible students at six UNC campuses stay enrolled and graduate on time, funded with $5 million a year from the Escheat Fund. It appropriates tens of millions of dollars for facility upgrades and expansions at Winston-Salem State University, Elizabeth City State University and several private HBCUs, and increases need-based aid for students at private colleges. The bill also creates and funds a Nursing Fellows forgivable loan program at Winston-Salem State, expands Cheatham-White Scholarships to include that campus, and generally aims to improve infrastructure, completion, and workforce preparation at HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions. Most provisions take effect July 1, 2026.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Zack Hawkins 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.

Ward, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 5th House district, replacing previous state representative Howard Hunter III.