Sen. Kennedy files bill in North Carolina Senate for education bonds

A new bill filed by State Sen. Michael Garrett seeks to provide funding for public school facilities through state-issued education bonds, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 946 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Keep Our Schools Standing Act.’

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

In essence, this bill authorizes up to $50 billion in state general obligation “Education Bonds,” subject to voter approval in November 2026, to fund pre-K through grade 12 public school facilities through county grants. It defines eligible capital projects, bars use of bond funds for central administration buildings and mobile classrooms, and caps new bond or note issuance at $250 million per 12-month period. The bill directs the Department of Public Instruction to allocate funds using factors such as enrollment, growth, county wealth, and facility condition, prioritizes energy-efficiency projects, sets tracking and reporting requirements, and makes the bonds tax-exempt and backed by the state’s full faith and credit. It takes effect when it becomes law.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Sophia Chitlik proposed the most bills (78) 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.

Garrett graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2007 with a BSBA.

Garrett, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 27th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Trudy Wade.