Sen. Lee files bill in North Carolina Senate on technology cost evaluations in education

A new bill filed by State Sen. Michael V. Lee in the North Carolina Senate seeks to improve how public schools and colleges evaluate technology expenses and address repair needs, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 449 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Fiscal Responsibility and K-20 Tech Planning.’

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

In essence, this bill mandates that all public schools, community colleges, and University of North Carolina institutions evaluate technology costs through specific considerations, including long-term ownership expenses, flexibility for innovation, and anticipated resale value. Public schools are further required to report the “break/fix rate” of their technology, which is the percentage of devices needing repair before their expected life cycle ends. These reports, including recommendations to lower repair rates, must be submitted to the State Board of Education and Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by Aug. 15 each year. The bill’s provisions will take effect starting with the 2025-26 academic year.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Lee and Kevin Corbin proposed the most bills (18) 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.

Lee graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991 with a BA and again in 1997 from Wake Forest University Law School with a JD.

Lee, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 7th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Jim Perry.