A new bill filed by State Rep. Mitchell S. Setzer seeks to provide local boards of education greater flexibility in determining public school opening and closing dates, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 121 on Feb. 13 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘SchCalFlex/Statewide/Open Cal.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill provides additional flexibility for local boards of education in North Carolina to set the opening and closing dates of the public school year. While the standard opening date for students remains no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and the closing date no later than the Friday closest to June 11, the State Board of Education can waive this requirement. Upon demonstrating good cause, local boards can open schools as early as the Monday closest to Aug. 19, provided their calendars can accommodate anticipated makeup days due to closures. “Good cause” is defined as schools being closed eight days per year during four of the last 10 years due to severe weather or emergencies. Exemptions exist for schools operating on a modified calendar since the 2003-04 school year. This act is effective upon becoming law and applies starting with the 2025-26 school year.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Setzer and Cody Huneycutt proposed the most bills (nine) 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.
Setzer graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1987 with a BA.
Setzer, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 1999 to represent the state’s 89th House district, replacing previous state representative Robert Brawley.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Carla D. Cunningham, Cody Huneycutt, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 121 | 02/13/2025 | SchCalFlex/Statewide/Open Cal. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Cody Huneycutt, and Pricey Harrison | HB 120 | 02/13/2025 | Expand Project C.A.R.E./Funds. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Eric Ager, Lindsey Prather, and Pricey Harrison | HB 84 | 02/10/2025 | The Pollinator Protection Act. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Brian Echevarria, Mark Brody, and Mike Clampitt | HB 64 | 02/05/2025 | Const. Amend. – Gubernatorial Clemency. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Stephen M. Ross, and Todd Carver | HB 43 | 02/04/2025 | Designate State Balloon Rally. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Harry Warren, Julia C. Howard, and Mark Brody | HB 48 | 02/04/2025 | Increase UI Max Benefit/2025 UI Tax Credit. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, and Larry W. Potts | HB 54 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for NC APSE. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, and Larry W. Potts | HB 55 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for the IGNITE Program. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer and Cody Huneycutt | HB 25 | 01/29/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Stanly & Catawba. |
