House Bill 2 requires public school units in North Carolina to accept cash for admission to interscholastic athletic events at high schools and middle schools when a fee is charged. The bill applies to school-sponsored sports events and is aimed at ensuring that spectators can pay at the gate with cash, rather than being limited to electronic or other non-cash payment methods.
The bill also allows local governing bodies to adopt policies for handling cash before it is deposited, including permitting cash collected at events to be deposited on the next business day. It amends existing statutes governing interscholastic athletics and middle school athletics, and it takes effect when it becomes law, applying beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
HB2 would amend G.S. 115C-407.65 and G.S. 115C-407.70 to create a statewide requirement that public school units accept cash for paid admission to interscholastic athletic activities. It would override any contrary local practice that relies exclusively on cashless payment systems for these events, while preserving local discretion to set procedures for cash handling and delayed deposit. The bill affects public school units, school athletic programs, and event attendees who pay admission fees.
The available context shows no recorded committee debate or vote details, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or support from transcripts. Based on the bill’s straightforward consumer-access purpose, the measure appears to be a practical administrative change rather than a broad policy overhaul. The legislative status indicates it advanced from the House and was referred to the Senate Rules and Operations Committee, suggesting it remained under consideration.
The main point of contention is likely whether schools should be required to accept cash at athletic events, especially where districts may prefer cashless systems for convenience, security, or accounting reasons. Supporters would likely emphasize access and fairness for families who do not use cards or digital payments, while opponents may focus on cash-handling burdens, security risks, and administrative costs. The bill addresses one compromise by allowing next-business-day deposit procedures, but it still mandates cash acceptance.