Sen. Lee files bill in North Carolina Senate to establish AI instructional support program

A new bill filed by State Sen. Lee seeks to establish a program that uses AI to enhance student learning and assist teachers in North Carolina public schools, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 619 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘AI Academic Support Grant Program.’

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

In essence, this bill establishes the AI Instructional Support Program, allowing public school units in North Carolina to contract with Khan Academy, Inc. for the use of Khanmigo, an AI application aiding both student comprehension and teacher lesson planning for grades six through 12. Funding will be allocated based on average daily membership in these grades, to be used exclusively for contracting with Khan Academy, including necessary professional development and class rostering requirements. Public school units must evaluate their use of Khanmigo annually and report their findings to the Department of Public Instruction by July 15. Additionally, 500 licenses for Khanmigo will be provided to schools operated by the Division of Juvenile Justice. The program also mandates a study on effectiveness by the North Carolina Collaboratory with results due by April 1, 2028. The bill intends to appropriate $10 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year, pending the enactment of the Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2025.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Lee proposed the most bills (34) 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.