A new bill filed by State Rep. Setzer seeks to establish a high school focused on career and technical education for grades 10 through 12 in Iredell-Statesville Schools, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 304 on March 5 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Allow Flex. for Trades HS in Iredell Co.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill allows the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education to operate a Trades High School, focusing primarily on Career and Technical Education for students in grades 10 through 12. The school is exempt from certain statutes and can employ staff under flexible terms, requiring at least 50% of teachers to be licensed and all core subject teachers to be college graduates. Non-licensed teachers must complete preservice training on topics like disability education and behavior management. The board will develop criteria for a Trades Diploma, requiring at least 22 credits, to be presented to the State Board of Education. The act is effective upon becoming law and applies from the 2025-26 school year.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Setzer proposed the most bills (11) 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, Jeffrey C. McNeely, and Todd Carver | HB 304 | 03/05/2025 | Allow Flex. for Trades HS in Iredell Co. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Jeff Zenger, and Sam Watford | HB 247 | 02/27/2025 | Underground Safety Revisions. |
| 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, Carla D. Cunningham, Cody Huneycutt, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 121 | 02/13/2025 | SchCalFlex/Statewide/Open Cal. |
| 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. |
