Rep. Willis files bill in North Carolina House to expand school enrollment options

A new bill filed by State Rep. David Willis in the North Carolina House seeks to expand student enrollment choices within local school administrative units, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 981 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Local Schools Open Enrollment Study.’

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

In essence, this bill allows students to enroll in any school within their local school administrative unit, subject to certain conditions. It mandates each local board of education to create and publish an open enrollment plan enabling students to apply for schools outside their designated attendance area. This plan must include an application process, school preference declaration, lottery procedure if applications exceed capacity, and transportation information. Students who secure enrollment through this process can continue attending the school without reapplying unless they leave voluntarily. Boards are required to publish capacity data monthly and manage waitlists if needed. Schools are not obligated to start new programs or alter admission criteria due to open enrollment. Requests can be denied for reasons such as lack of appropriate programs, failure to meet eligibility, compliance with desegregation plans, or disciplinary issues. Appeals for denied or revoked enrollments are possible through the local and state boards. This act is effective immediately and applies from the 2025-26 school year registration.

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.