A new bill filed by State Sen. Settle in the North Carolina Senate seeks to increase engagement in apprenticeship programs through grants to community colleges partnering with schools and businesses, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 240 on March 5 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Establish NCSTARS 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 North Carolina Strategic Training and Reliable Skills Grant Program (NCSTARS) for the 2026-29 academic years, aimed at increasing engagement in apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. The Community Colleges System Office will select three community colleges to receive matching grants of up to $500,000 annually, contingent on local funding. Participating colleges must partner with public school units and local businesses to develop work-based learning opportunities. Surry-Yadkin Works will provide technical assistance, with $200,000 allocated for this purpose. An initial report is due by April 1, 2026, with a final report by August 1, 2029. The program receives a nonrecurring appropriation of $4.75 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year, effective July 1, 2025.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Todd Johnson proposed the most bills (17) 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, David W. Craven, Jr., and Todd Johnson | SB 240 | 03/05/2025 | Establish NCSTARS Grant Program. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Tom McInnis, and Vickie Sawyer | SB 231 | 03/05/2025 | State Surplus Property/Third-Party Auctions. |
| 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. |
