Rep. Huneycutt files bill in North Carolina House to allow flexible school year dates

A new bill filed by State Rep. Cody Huneycutt in the North Carolina House seeks to provide local education boards with greater flexibility to determine public school calendars based on local needs, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 121 on Feb. 13 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘SchCalFlex/Statewide/Open Cal.’

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

In essence, this bill provides additional flexibility for local boards of education in North Carolina to set the opening and closing dates of the public school year. While the standard opening date for students remains no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and the closing date no later than the Friday closest to June 11, the State Board of Education can waive this requirement. Upon demonstrating good cause, local boards can open schools as early as the Monday closest to Aug. 19, provided their calendars can accommodate anticipated makeup days due to closures. “Good cause” is defined as schools being closed eight days per year during four of the last 10 years due to severe weather or emergencies. Exemptions exist for schools operating on a modified calendar since the 2003-04 school year. This act is effective upon becoming law and applies starting with the 2025-26 school year.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Mitchell S. Setzer and Huneycutt proposed the most bills (nine) 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.

Huneycutt graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2014 with a BA.

Huneycutt, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 67th House district, replacing previous state representative Clayton Sasser.