A new bill filed by State Sen. Dana Jones in the North Carolina Senate aims to expand tuition waiver eligibility for families of public safety personnel, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 1004 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Family Support for Those Who Serve Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill expands North Carolina’s tuition waiver program for public safety families by adding children of experienced correctional officers to those eligible for free tuition at state community colleges. It keeps existing waivers for survivors, spouses and children of law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, volunteer firefighters and rescue squad workers who were killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty. Children using the new community college waivers must be ages 17 to 23, meet admission standards and are limited to the time needed to complete their program. The bill takes effect when it becomes law and applies starting with the 2026-27 academic year.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Benton G. Sawrey proposed the most bills (61) 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.
Jones graduated from High Point University in 1993 with a BA.
Jones, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 31st Senate district, replacing previous state senator Joyce Krawiec.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dana Jones, Benton G. Sawrey, and Lisa S. Barnes | SB 1004 | 04/30/2026 | Family Support for Those Who Serve Act. |
| Dana Jones, Kevin Corbin, and Michael V. Lee | SB 1006 | 04/30/2026 | K-12 Innovation and Transformation Act. |
| Dana Jones and Benton G. Sawrey | SB 1013 | 04/30/2026 | 2026 Office of the State Auditor Agency Bill.-AB |
| Dana Jones, Sophia Chitlik, and Todd Johnson | SB 983 | 04/30/2026 | TIPs Tax Deduction. |
| Dana Jones and Vickie Sawyer | SB 905 | 04/29/2026 | Foster Care Motor Vehicle Insurance. |
| Dana Jones | SB 864 | 04/28/2026 | Safe and Responsible AI in Schools Act. |
| Dana Jones and Eddie D. Settle | SB 845 | 04/27/2026 | Luggage for Children Placed in Foster Care. |
| Dana Jones, Michael V. Lee, and Tom McInnis | SB 508 | 03/25/2025 | LL to CPL/Apprenticeship Program. |
| Dana Jones and Michael V. Lee | SB 580 | 03/25/2025 | Competency-Based Education Grant Program. |
| Dana Jones, David W. Craven, Jr., and Steve Jarvis | SB 690 | 03/25/2025 | Modify Licensing Real Est. Appraisers. |
| Dana Jones and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 759 | 03/25/2025 | Minors Health Protection Act. |
| Dana Jones, Carl Ford, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 414 | 03/24/2025 | Pharmacists/Test and Treat. |
| Dana Jones, Bobby Hanig, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 415 | 03/24/2025 | Patient Safety/Med. Imaging/Radiation Therapy. |
| Dana Jones, Benton G. Sawrey, and Michael A. Lazzara | SB 346 | 03/19/2025 | Good Samaritan Law/Immunity. |
| Dana Jones, Benton G. Sawrey, and Michael A. Lazzara | SB 328 | 03/18/2025 | Underground Safety Revisions. |
| Dana Jones, Bobby Hanig, and Ralph Hise | SB 302 | 03/17/2025 | The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act. |
| Dana Jones, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and David W. Craven, Jr. | SB 312 | 03/17/2025 | The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act. |
| Dana Jones and Paul A. Lowe, Jr. | SB 241 | 03/05/2025 | Funds for Smith Reynolds Airport MRO Hangar. |
| Dana Jones and Bobby Hanig | SB 162 | 02/25/2025 | Shared Parenting. |
| Dana Jones, Kevin Corbin, and Michael V. Lee | SB 125 | 02/21/2025 | Various Education Changes. |
| Dana Jones, Michael V. Lee, and Paul Newton | SB 101 | 02/13/2025 | Protect Tax-Advantaged Accts. & Living Donors. |
| Dana Jones, Amy S. Galey, and Brent Jackson | SB 59 | 02/05/2025 | Revise Voluntary Ag. District Laws. |
| Dana Jones, Bob Brinson, and Jim Burgin | SB 31 | 01/30/2025 | The Wells Act. |
| Dana Jones and Amy S. Galey | SB 39 | 01/30/2025 | GSC Add Member from High Point Law School. |
| Dana Jones | SB 6 | 01/29/2025 | 31st Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
