A new bill filed by State Rep. Abe Jones in the North Carolina House seeks to create a commission aimed at supporting youth mentoring programs and enhancing academic opportunities, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 726 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Youth Mentoring & Academic Enhancement Comm.’
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 Commission on Youth Mentoring and Academic Enhancement under the Department of Administration, effective July 1, 2025. The Commission is tasked with administering a grant program for small- to medium-sized youth nonprofit mentoring and tutoring organizations in North Carolina, aiming to sustain community programs, reduce risk behaviors like substance abuse and gang involvement, and increase positive connections for youth. It will develop an application process, collaborate with educational authorities to identify at-risk students, and consult with relevant Councils when needed. The Commission comprises 12 members appointed by the governor, including representatives from mentoring organizations, the Department of Public Instruction, business and philanthropic communities, and public school instructors. The initiative will be funded by the State Education Lottery and requires an annual report by Dec. 1 detailing grant distributions and outcomes.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Zack Hawkins proposed the most bills (27) 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.
Jones graduated from Harvard University in 1974 with an AB and again in 1977 from Harvard Law School with a JD.
Jones, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 38th House district, replacing previous state representative Yvonne Lewis Holley.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abe Jones, Garland E. Pierce, and Zack Hawkins | HB 726 | 04/02/2025 | Youth Mentoring & Academic Enhancement Comm. |
| Abe Jones | HB 699 | 04/02/2025 | Sheriff’s Deputies/Dismissals. |
| Abe Jones | HB 700 | 04/02/2025 | The Patients’ Restoration of Rights Act. |
| Abe Jones, Beth Helfrich, Phil Rubin, and Tracy Clark | HB 643 | 04/01/2025 | Clarify Firearm Storage Law. |
| Abe Jones, Allen Buansi, Charles Smith, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 646 | 04/01/2025 | Const. Amend.: Remove Slavery as Punishment. |
| Abe Jones and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 585 | 03/31/2025 | Human Trafficking Reporting/Response System. |
| Abe Jones, Julia Greenfield, Marcia Morey, and Renée A. Price | HB 589 | 03/31/2025 | The Second Look Act. |
| Abe Jones, Becky Carney, Robert T. Reives, II, and Shelly Willingham | HB 604 | 03/31/2025 | Rural and Downtown Community Eco. Dev. Grants. |
| Abe Jones, Julia Greenfield, Sarah Crawford, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 467 | 03/20/2025 | Reenact Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. |
| Abe Jones, Robert T. Reives, II, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 446 | 03/18/2025 | Prohibition on Disclosing Booking Photographs. |
| Abe Jones, Charles Smith, Julie von Haefen, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 367 | 03/11/2025 | Provide Rape Kit Status Updates to Victims. |
| Abe Jones, Garland E. Pierce, Hugh Blackwell, and Marcia Morey | HB 335 | 03/06/2025 | Expand Emergency Judge Eligibility. |
| Abe Jones, Marcia Morey, Phil Rubin, and Tim Longest | HB 129 | 02/13/2025 | Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act. |
