Rep. Von Haefen files bill in North Carolina House to expand Teaching Fellows Program

A new bill filed by State Rep. Von Haefen seeks to improve the Teaching Fellows Program to better support teacher recruitment and retention, particularly in underserved areas, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 941 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Expand & Enhance the Teaching Fellows Program.’

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

In essence, this bill aims to expand and enhance the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program by revising its structure and funding to address the state’s growing teacher shortage, especially in rural areas. It increases the number of participating institutions from 10 to 14, including both public and private educational institutions, and allocates $10 million annually to the program. The bill extends eligibility for forgivable loans to students pursuing licensure in specific areas such as special education and STEM, and increases loan amounts to $12,000 per academic year. It also provides mechanisms for loan forgiveness, requires enhanced recruiting methods, and retroactively applies prior program revisions. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2025, impacting the 2025-26 academic year.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Von Haefen proposed the most bills (30) 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.

Haefen graduated from Ohio University in 1992 with a BA and again in 1995 from Case Western Reserve University with a JD.

Haefen, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 36th House district, replacing previous state representative Nelson Dollar.