Rep. Willis files bill in North Carolina House on standardized test use at UNC

A new bill filed by State Rep. David Willis in the North Carolina House seeks to regulate the use of standardized tests for university admissions and scholarship eligibility, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 918 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Standardized Testing Choice Act.’

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

In essence, this bill establishes requirements for the use of standardized tests for admissions and scholarships at the University of North Carolina, effective in the 2025-26 academic year. It mandates that if any entity within the university requires a standardized test score from the SAT, ACT, or Classic Learning Test (CLT) for admissions or scholarships, applicants must be allowed to submit scores from any of these tests interchangeably. Additionally, if a minimum score is required on one test, a concordant score on a different test must also be permitted. The bill further includes the CLT10 among the standardized tests offered to eighth through tenth graders in high school, allowing them to take the PSAT/NMSQT, PreACT, or CLT10 once at no cost. This section applies beginning in the 2025-26 school year. The act takes effect when it becomes law, unless specified otherwise.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Willis proposed the most bills (48) 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.

Willis graduated from Appalachian State University in 1996.

Willis, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 68th House district, replacing previous state representative D. Craig Horn.