A new bill filed by State Rep. Brian Biggs in the North Carolina House seeks to mandate daily Pledge of Allegiance recitation and flag display in classrooms and school board meetings, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 186 on Feb. 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill mandates that local school boards, charter schools, and regional schools in North Carolina schedule recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance daily within one hour of the start of the instructional day, without compelling participation. Each classroom is required to display the U.S. and North Carolina flags when available and provide age-appropriate instruction on their historical significance. Additionally, this requirement extends to every State Board of Education or public school unit governing body meeting. The act becomes effective immediately and applies starting with the 2025-26 school year.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Neal Jackson proposed the most bills (11) 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.
Biggs, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 70th House district, replacing previous state representative Patricia Hurley.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Biggs, Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, and Neal Jackson | HB 186 | 02/24/2025 | The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act. |
| Brian Biggs | HB 161 | 02/21/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Randolph Co. |
| Brian Biggs, David Willis, Hugh Blackwell, and John A. Torbett | HB 144 | 02/17/2025 | Elect SBE/Superintendent as SBE Chair. |
| Brian Biggs, Allen Chesser, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 112 | 02/12/2025 | Increase Permissible Interstate Speed Limit. |
| Brian Biggs, Julia C. Howard, Kyle Hall, and Steve Tyson | HB 96 | 02/11/2025 | Expedited Removal of Unauthorized Persons. |
| Brian Biggs, Donnie Loftis, John A. Torbett, and Kelly E. Hastings | HB 86 | 02/10/2025 | Citizens’ Expungement Clarification of 2025. |
| Brian Biggs, Blair Eddins, Mike Schietzelt, and Neal Jackson | HB 87 | 02/10/2025 | Cell Phone-Free Education. |
| Brian Biggs, Donny Lambeth, Larry W. Potts, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 60 | 02/04/2025 | Modernize Medicaid Dental Rates. |
| Brian Biggs, Kyle Hall, Neal Jackson, and Stephen M. Ross | HB 31 | 02/03/2025 | Make Election Day A State Holiday. |
| Brian Biggs, Celeste C. Cairns, Erin ParĂ©, and Keith Kidwell | HB 4 | 01/29/2025 | Sam’s Law. |
