Rep. Willis files bill in North Carolina House to improve teacher retention and recruitment

A new bill filed by State Rep. David Willis seeks to improve teacher retention and recruitment by proposing several supportive measures for educators in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 846 on April 9 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Teacher Retention and Recruitment.’

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

In essence, this bill seeks to improve teacher retention and recruitment by implementing several initiatives. It provides a tuition waiver at constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina and community colleges for children of eligible veteran teachers, specifically those with 20 years of teaching service, starting in the 2025-26 academic year. The bill reinstates education-based salary supplements for teachers, expands the teacher bonus program, and revises the teaching fellows program. It revives the retired teachers program, allowing retired educators to return to service without affecting their retirement benefits, and expands teacher licensure reciprocity by allowing teachers from states ranked in the top 25 in education to qualify for licensure in North Carolina. Additionally, it strengthens reporting requirements for assaults and threats against teachers. It appropriates $2 million for the tuition waivers and $10 million for the increased retirement system costs due to these changes, effective July 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Grant L. Campbell, MD proposed the most bills (57) 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.