A new bill filed by State Sen. Settle seeks to mandate flag displays and daily Pledge of Allegiance recitations in North Carolina schools, emphasizing historical education without compulsory participation, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 264 on March 11 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Flags at Every School.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill mandates local boards of education, charter, regional, and laboratory schools in North Carolina to display the United States and North Carolina flags at school grounds near the main entrance and in every classroom where possible. It also requires a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and provides age-appropriate instruction on its historical origins, though participation cannot be compelled. The bill appropriates $1 million in nonrecurring funds for the 2025 fiscal year and $100,000 in recurring funds from the 2026 fiscal year for flag purchases. Additionally, $1,000 is allocated to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors for flag procurement. The act becomes effective upon becoming law and applies starting the 2025-26 school year.
A related bill, SB 123, was also filed in the North Carolina Senate, introduced by Sen. Eddie D. Settle (and two others) on Feb. 21, 2025.
Settle proposed another 10 bills 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.
Settle graduated from Wilkes Community College in 1979 with an AA.
Settle, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 36th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Paul Newton.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie D. Settle | SB 264 | 03/11/2025 | Flags at Every School. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Tom McInnis, and Vickie Sawyer | SB 231 | 03/05/2025 | State Surplus Property/Third-Party Auctions. |
| Eddie D. Settle, David W. Craven, Jr., and Todd Johnson | SB 240 | 03/05/2025 | Establish NCSTARS Grant Program. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Timothy D. Moffitt, and W. Ted Alexander | SB 164 | 02/25/2025 | Theft of Temporary Housing During Emergency. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Carl Ford, and W. Ted Alexander | SB 123 | 02/21/2025 | Flags at Every School. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Michael A. Lazzara, and Vickie Sawyer | SB 113 | 02/17/2025 | Removal of Squatters from Private Property. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Michael A. Lazzara, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 71 | 02/11/2025 | Expedited Removal of Unauthorized Persons. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Bobby Hanig, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 58 | 02/05/2025 | AG/Restrict Challenge to Presidential EOs. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Warren Daniel | SB 50 | 02/04/2025 | Freedom to Carry NC. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Todd Johnson | SB 51 | 02/04/2025 | Maintain NAIC Accreditation of DOI.-AB |
| Eddie D. Settle | SB 41 | 02/03/2025 | 36th Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
