North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina S558: Eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Ed.
Status: Signed into law, June 24, 2026
What the bill says
An act to demonstrate the general assembly's intent that students, professors, administrators, and other employees of public institutions of higher education recognize the equality and rights of all persons and to prohibit public institutions of higher education from promoting certain concepts that are contrary to that intent.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO DEMONSTRATE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S INTENT THAT STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHER EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION RECOGNIZE THE EQUALITY AND RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS AND TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FROM PROMOTING CERTAIN CONCEPTS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO THAT INTENT. Whereas, President Trump issued an executive order on January 21, 2025, to ensure that higher education recipients of federal funds comply with all applicable laws prohibiting illegal discrimination and comply with the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, 600 U.S. 181 (2023); and Whereas, in the last fiscal year, North Carolina received $2.4 billion in federal funding for public higher education, demonstrating the importance of ensuring that public institutions of higher education remain in compliance with federal regulations to protect education funding; and Whereas, the General Assembly is committed to ensuring all North Carolina students enrolled in public institutions of higher education receive a meaningful education based on academic excellence, critical thinking, and the free exchange of ideas; and Whereas, it is the State's role to protect the practice of higher education for students and professors; and Whereas, so-called "DEI" programs promote a worldview that demands people, especially young students, judge others based on their race, sex, or other factors and attack true diversity of …
Sponsors
- Berger, Phil (R, 26) · primary sponsor
- Overcash, Brad (R, 43) · primary sponsor
- Corbin, Kevin (R, 50) · primary sponsor
- Alexander, W. Ted (R, 44)
- Barnes, Lisa S. (R, 11)
- Brinson, Bob (R, 3)
- Craven, David W. (R, 29)
- Daniel, Warren (R, 46)
- Ford, Carl (R, 33)
- Galey, Amy S. (R, 25)
- Hanig, Bobby (R, 1)
- Hise, Ralph (R, 47)
Latest actions
- : Ch. SL 2026-21
- : Veto Overridden
- : Placed On Cal For 04/21/2026
- : Withdrawn From Cal
- : Placed On Cal For 04/06/2026
- : Withdrawn From Cal
- : Placed On Cal For 03/09/2026
- : Withdrawn From Cal
- : Placed On Cal For 02/09/2026
- : Withdrawn From Cal
Votes
- Eliminating "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)" in Public Higher Educ Veto Override M4 Previous Question (June 24, 2026): 71 yea, 47 nay, passed
- Eliminating "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)" in Public Higher Educ Veto Override (June 24, 2026): 71 yea, 47 nay, passed
- Eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Ed. Motion 11 Veto Override (July 29, 2025): 30 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Eliminating "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)" in Public Higher Educ Second Reading (June 25, 2025): 64 yea, 47 nay, passed
- Eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Ed. Second Reading (April 9, 2025): 28 yea, 18 nay, passed
- Eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Ed. Amendment 2 Motion 1 To Table (April 9, 2025): 28 yea, 18 nay, passed
Subjects: COMMUNITY COLLEGES, MINORITIES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES BOARD, EDUCATION, RATIFIED, UNC BOARD OF GOVERNORS, DISCRIMINATION, BOARDS
Common questions
- What is S558?
- S558 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Ed.
- What does S558 do?
- In its own words: An act to demonstrate the general assembly's intent that students, professors, administrators, and other employees of public institutions of higher education recognize the equality and rights of all persons and to prohibit public institutions of higher education from promoting certain concepts that are contrary to that intent.
- What is the status of S558?
- Signed into law as of June 24, 2026. Latest action: Ch. SL 2026-21 (June 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored S558?
- Berger, Phil (R, 26), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S558?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S558
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.