A new bill filed by State Rep. Cynthia Ball in the North Carolina House seeks to increase funding to broaden participation in the state’s Prekindergarten program, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 715 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Universal Pre-K.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill appropriates $13.3 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education, for each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium. The funds are allocated to expand access to the North Carolina Prekindergarten (NC Pre-K) program, allowing more children in the state to participate. The act is set to become effective July 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Carla D. Cunningham proposed the most bills (31) 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.
Ball graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a BA and again from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Ball, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 49th House district, replacing previous state representative Gary Pendleton.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cynthia Ball, Brandon Lofton, Carla D. Cunningham, and Cecil Brockman | HB 715 | 04/02/2025 | Universal Pre-K. |
| Cynthia Ball, Allison A. Dahle, Amber M. Baker, and Phil Rubin | HB 691 | 04/02/2025 | Voter Protection and Reliance Act. |
| Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, Mary Belk, and Pricey Harrison | HB 686 | 04/01/2025 | Safe Cosmetics Act. |
| Cynthia Ball, Amber M. Baker, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 588 | 03/31/2025 | School Psychologist Omnibus. |
| Cynthia Ball, Brandon Lofton, Phil Rubin, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 608 | 03/31/2025 | Protect Health and Gov’t Personnel Info. |
| Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, Lindsey Prather, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 531 | 03/26/2025 | Addressing NC’s Teacher Crisis/NTSP. |
| Cynthia Ball, Becky Carney, Carla D. Cunningham, and Mary Belk | HB 495 | 03/24/2025 | Accessing Midwives Act. |
| Cynthia Ball, Carla D. Cunningham, Donna McDowell White, and Donny Lambeth | HB 464 | 03/19/2025 | Healthy Students – A Nurse in Every School. |
| Cynthia Ball, Allison A. Dahle, Maria Cervania, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 429 | 03/18/2025 | Turtle Rescue Team Special Registration Plate. |
| Cynthia Ball, Amos L. Quick, III, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 445 | 03/18/2025 | Fairness & Transparency in Education Salaries. |
| Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, Lindsey Prather, and Zack Hawkins | HB 420 | 03/17/2025 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Cynthia Ball, Marcia Morey, Mary Belk, and Pricey Harrison | HB 293 | 03/05/2025 | Marine Life Stewardship Act. |
