Sen. Mohammed files bill in North Carolina Senate to increase school health personnel

A new bill filed by State Sen. Mujtaba A. Mohammed seeks to boost student support by increasing the number of school health personnel in North Carolina schools, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 949 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Fully Fund School Psychologists & Counselors.’

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

In essence, this bill appropriates $359.3 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year to increase the School Health Personnel Allotment. The funds must be used to establish a tiered system of support for students by adding school health support personnel to reach statewide staffing ratios of at least one school psychologist for every 700 students and at least one school counselor for every 250 students. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Natalie S. Murdock proposed the most bills (104) 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.

Mohammed graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2008 with a BA and again in 2013 from North Carolina Central University School of Law with a JD.

Mohammed, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 38th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Joel Ford.