State Rep. Zack Hawkins introduced a bill in the North Carolina House that seeks to expand educational opportunities and strengthen resources for students and educators statewide, according to the North Carolina State House.
Filed as HB 1017 on April 21, during the 2025 regular session, the bill carries the short title: ‘Sound Basic Education for Every Child.’
The analysis below is informed by the official bill text and includes clarifications to help outline its measures.
The bill proposes a full-scale reform of North Carolina’s public school system, ensuring every student has access to a “sound basic education,” effective July 1, 2026. It commits billions to new and enhanced initiatives in teacher and principal recruitment, salary increases, licensing changes, ongoing professional learning, and targeted support for high-need and struggling schools. Funding model changes increase support for students with disabilities, those from low-income and at-risk backgrounds, English learners, health and instructional staff at schools, and charter schools. Expansions cover early childhood programs such as NC Pre-K, childcare subsidies, Smart Start, early support services, intervention, and home visits, alongside authorization for $4 billion in state bonds for public school construction and upgrades.
Among the four bill sponsors, Hawkins filed the most legislation (50 bills) during the 2025 regular session.
North Carolina legislation must pass a multi-stage legislative process prior to becoming law. The process begins when a legislator files a bill, which is sent to a committee for review. In each chamber, the bill must be read three times. If changes are made after passage by one chamber, both chambers need to agree on the unified text. After final approval in both chambers, the governor has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is out of session) to sign, veto, or let the bill become law without a signature.
Hawkins earned his BS from Elizabeth City State University.
First elected in 2019, Hawkins, a Democrat, currently represents North Carolina’s 31st House district, succeeding former state Rep. Henry Michaux, Jr..
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zack Hawkins, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 1017 | 04/21/2026 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Zack Hawkins, Allison A. Dahle, and James Roberson | HB 1023 | 04/21/2026 | Divine Nine Special Registration Plate Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Aisha O. Dew, and Pricey Harrison | HB 1011 | 04/15/2025 | NC Compassionate Care Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jarrod Lowery, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 1004 | 04/10/2025 | UNC AI & Technology Hubs. |
| Zack Hawkins, Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Julie von Haefen | HB 910 | 04/10/2025 | DRIVE Recommendations/Teacher Diversity. |
| Zack Hawkins, Julie von Haefen, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 922 | 04/10/2025 | North Carolina Consumer Protection Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 927 | 04/10/2025 | Durham Funding Bill. |
| Zack Hawkins, Allen Buansi, Harry Warren, and Tim Longest | HB 931 | 04/10/2025 | End Predatory Towing Fees and Practices. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donna McDowell White, and Sarah Crawford | HB 933 | 04/10/2025 | IDD Omnibus. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jake Johnson, Jeff Zenger, and Vernetta Alston | HB 934 | 04/10/2025 | AI Regulatory Reform Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Beth Helfrich, Eric Ager, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 937 | 04/10/2025 | Keeping Our Coaches Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Beth Helfrich, Mike Colvin, and Ya Liu | HB 951 | 04/10/2025 | SOS (State Owned Structures) Child Care Act. |
| Zack Hawkins | HB 954 | 04/10/2025 | Local Gov’ts Disaster Fund. |
| Zack Hawkins, Amber M. Baker, and Bill Ward | HB 957 | 04/10/2025 | HBCU/HMSI Omnibus. |
| Zack Hawkins | HB 977 | 04/10/2025 | Defend NC. |
| Zack Hawkins, David Willis, and Mike Colvin | HB 978 | 04/10/2025 | Est. Youth Mentoring Comm./Mentoring Funds. |
| Zack Hawkins | HB 988 | 04/10/2025 | Revise Law on Instant Bingo. |
| Zack Hawkins | HB 994 | 04/10/2025 | Western NC Support; Expand Comm. Eco. Dev. |
| Zack Hawkins, Carla D. Cunningham, Terry M. Brown Jr., and Vernetta Alston | HB 857 | 04/09/2025 | Create Alert/Missing Person w/ Disability. |
| Zack Hawkins, Cynthia Ball, Tim Longest, and Vernetta Alston | HB 823 | 04/08/2025 | County Service Districts/Research & URSD. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donna McDowell White, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 810 | 04/07/2025 | State Employee Bereavement Leave/Up To 40-Hrs. |
| Zack Hawkins, Hugh Blackwell, Jake Johnson, and Matthew Winslow | HB 819 | 04/07/2025 | DIT Agency Bill. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 783 | 04/03/2025 | Funds for Sidekicks Academy. |
| Zack Hawkins, Julie von Haefen, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Vernetta Alston | HB 725 | 04/02/2025 | MOMnibus 3.0. |
| Zack Hawkins, Abe Jones, and Garland E. Pierce | HB 726 | 04/02/2025 | Youth Mentoring & Academic Enhancement Comm. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 731 | 04/02/2025 | Funds for Pauli Murray Center. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jordan Lopez, and Marcia Morey | HB 733 | 04/02/2025 | The Everybody Eats Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Becky Carney, Deb Butler, and Pricey Harrison | HB 742 | 04/02/2025 | Healthy and High-Performing Schools. |
| Zack Hawkins, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 745 | 04/02/2025 | Fair Competition Study Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Amber M. Baker, B. Ray Jeffers, and James Roberson | HB 639 | 04/01/2025 | Prioritize In-State Applicants/UNC Ed Schools. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jonathan L. Almond, Rodney D. Pierce, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 688 | 04/01/2025 | Funds for Inclusive Playgrounds. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donny Lambeth, Laura Budd, and Ray Pickett | HB 578 | 03/31/2025 | The Jason Flatt Act of North Carolina. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donna McDowell White, Sarah Crawford, and Vernetta Alston | HB 551 | 03/27/2025 | Clubhouse Expansion. |
| Zack Hawkins, Donnie Loftis, Jerry “Alan” Branson, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 472 | 03/20/2025 | Commercial Vehicle & Cargo Protection. |
| Zack Hawkins, Aisha O. Dew, Jordan Lopez, and Pricey Harrison | HB 413 | 03/17/2025 | Marijuana Legalization and Reinvestment Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Allen Buansi, B. Ray Jeffers, and Renée A. Price | HB 416 | 03/17/2025 | Funds for Boys & Girls Clubs. |
| Zack Hawkins, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 420 | 03/17/2025 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Zack Hawkins, David Willis, Jake Johnson, and Steve Tyson | HB 424 | 03/17/2025 | Gaming Laws/Allow Certain Social Games. |
| Zack Hawkins, Carolyn G. Logan, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Pricey Harrison | HB 401 | 03/13/2025 | Allow Lottery Winners to be Confidential. |
| Zack Hawkins, Allison A. Dahle, and James Roberson | HB 407 | 03/13/2025 | Divine Nine Special Registration Plate Act. |
| Zack Hawkins, Ray Pickett, Tricia Ann Cotham, and Ya Liu | HB 378 | 03/11/2025 | Leon’s Law (Dual Enrollment Info Parents). |
| Zack Hawkins, Julie von Haefen, Kanika Brown, and Pricey Harrison | HB 344 | 03/10/2025 | Litter Reduction Act of 2025. |
| Zack Hawkins, James Roberson, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 259 | 03/03/2025 | Brown-Morgan Science Olympiad Grant. |
| Zack Hawkins, Jordan Lopez, Terry M. Brown Jr., and Vernetta Alston | HB 256 | 02/27/2025 | Allow Public Employee Collective Bargaining. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 208 | 02/25/2025 | Partnership for Children Information Access. |
| Zack Hawkins, B. Ray Jeffers, Marcia Morey, and Vernetta Alston | HB 209 | 02/25/2025 | Employee Housing/Durham County. |
| Zack Hawkins, James Roberson, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 65 | 02/05/2025 | Sigma Gamma Rho Special Registration Plate. |
| Zack Hawkins, Lindsey Prather, Marcia Morey, and Pricey Harrison | HB 20 | 01/29/2025 | Fair Maps Act. |
| Zack Hawkins and Howard Penny, Jr. | HB 21 | 01/29/2025 | Drivers License Designation/Autism. |
