Rep. Von Haefen files bill in North Carolina House to revise Opportunity Scholarship Program

A new bill filed by State Rep. Julie von Haefen in the North Carolina House seeks to update eligibility and reporting standards for nonpublic schools receiving scholarship funds, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 815 on April 7 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Voucher School Accountability Act.’

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

In essence, the bill aims to revise the eligibility requirements for the Opportunity Scholarship Program in North Carolina and enhance accountability and reporting standards for nonpublic schools receiving these funds. It expands the criteria for eligible students to include various situations such as children in foster care, recently adopted children, and children of active-duty military personnel. The scholarship amounts are tiered based on household income relative to the federal free or reduced-price lunch program threshold. Nonpublic schools accepting these scholarships must adhere to several requirements, including annual tuition reporting, limiting tuition hikes to 5%, conducting criminal background checks for staff, and providing standardized test results. The bill also requires nonpublic schools to publish expenditures if they receive over $250,000 in grant funds and prohibits any discrimination based on race, gender, or religion. This act is effective July 1, 2025, for the 2025-26 school year.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Lindsey Prather proposed the most bills (25) 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.