Senate Bill 433 would restore longevity pay for North Carolina educators beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It repeals a 2014 law provision that had eliminated or altered these payments and reinstates annual longevity bonuses for teachers and instructional support personnel based on years of State service. Under the bill, eligible educators would receive a lump-sum payment each year equal to 1.5% of base salary for 10 to 14 years of service, 2.25% for 15 to 19 years, 3.25% for 20 to 24 years, and 4.5% for 25 or more years of service.
The bill also provides that principals and assistant principals would receive longevity payments under the same rules that apply to other State employees under the North Carolina Human Resources Act. To fund the change, the bill appropriates $140.3 million in recurring General Fund dollars to the Department of Public Instruction for fiscal year 2025-2026. The act would take effect July 1, 2025, and would directly affect state education compensation policy and the State budget.
Impact
S433 would amend state law by repealing Section 9.1(d) of S.L. 2014-100 and restoring a compensation benefit for public school educators that had previously been removed or reduced. It would create a statutory entitlement to longevity payments for teachers and instructional support personnel, while aligning principals' and assistant principals' longevity treatment with the general State employee framework. The bill would also require a recurring appropriation from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction, increasing ongoing state spending by $140.3 million in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Sentiment
Based on the bill title and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the available context suggests the bill is intended as a supportive measure for educators and is framed positively by its sponsors. The measure appears to be aimed at restoring a long-standing compensation benefit, which typically signals favorable treatment of experienced school employees. However, because no transcripts or vote history are provided, there is no documented opposition or formal legislative sentiment in the record here.
Contention
The main point of contention likely concerns the fiscal impact of restoring longevity pay, especially the $140.3 million recurring appropriation from the General Fund. Supporters would likely emphasize educator retention, morale, and fairness to long-serving teachers and support staff, while opponents may focus on budget constraints, competing education priorities, or whether longevity pay is the best use of recurring state funds. Another possible issue is the differential treatment between educators and other state employees, though the bill partially addresses that by tying principals and assistant principals to the State employee longevity framework.