Rep. Lofton files bill in North Carolina House to expand prekindergarten access

A new bill filed by State Rep. Brandon Lofton in the North Carolina House seeks to expand early childhood education opportunities through increased funding, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 715 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Universal Pre-K.’

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

In essence, this bill appropriates $13.3 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education, for each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium. The funds are allocated to expand access to the North Carolina Prekindergarten (NC Pre-K) program, allowing more children in the state to participate. The act is set to become effective July 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Carla D. Cunningham proposed the most bills (31) 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.

Lofton graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001 with a BA and again in 2004 from New York University School of Law with a JD.

Lofton, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 104th House district, replacing previous state representative Andy Dulin.