In a rare bipartisan moment, the North Carolina General Assembly passed sweeping education legislation on Wednesday that directs $1.8 billion in new funding toward the state’s most underserved rural school districts. The measure, known as the Rural Schools Investment Act, represents the largest single investment in rural education in North Carolina history.

The bill passed the Senate 38-12 and cleared the House 89-31, with significant crossover support from both parties. Lawmakers from rural districts on both sides of the aisle championed the measure after years of advocacy from educators, parents, and community leaders who argued that the funding disparity between urban and rural schools had reached a crisis point.

“A child in Robeson County deserves the same quality education as a child in Wake County,” said Sen. Patricia Dawson (D-Lumberton), one of the bill’s primary sponsors. “This legislation doesn’t just level the playing field — it fundamentally reshapes how we invest in our communities.”

Key provisions include $600 million for school facility upgrades in the 30 lowest-wealth counties, $400 million for teacher recruitment and retention bonuses in rural areas, and $300 million for expanding broadband internet access to schools that still lack reliable connectivity. The remaining funds will support new vocational training programs and early childhood education initiatives.

The governor is expected to sign the bill next week. Education advocates have praised the legislation while noting that sustained funding beyond this initial investment will be necessary to fully address decades of underinvestment in rural communities.

Governor Josh Stein signed an executive order on Monday establishing the most ambitious clean energy targets in the southeastern United States, committing North Carolina to generating 80 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035.

The order, signed during a ceremony at a solar panel manufacturing facility in Durham, also sets a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions from the state’s power sector by 2040. North Carolina currently generates approximately 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily solar and wind.

“North Carolina has a choice: we can lead the clean energy economy or we can watch it pass us by,” Stein said. “Today, we’re choosing to lead.” The governor pointed to the state’s already robust solar industry — North Carolina ranks fourth nationally in installed solar capacity — as evidence that the transition is economically viable.

The order directs the Department of Environmental Quality to develop a detailed implementation roadmap within 120 days, including strategies for workforce development to ensure that workers in traditional energy sectors have pathways to new jobs. It also establishes an Office of Clean Energy Transition within the governor’s administration.

Environmental groups applauded the move, while some business organizations expressed cautious optimism tempered by concerns about energy costs and grid reliability during the transition. Duke Energy, the state’s largest utility, released a statement acknowledging the goals while noting the need for “pragmatic timelines and continued investment in grid modernization.”

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