Sen. Chaudhuri files bill in North Carolina Senate to mandate AI education in schools

A new bill filed by Sen. Chaudhuri seeks to establish AI education standards in North Carolina schools to cover foundational concepts and ethical implications for students, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 640 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘AI Ethics and Literacy Across Education.’

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

In essence, this bill mandates the inclusion of artificial intelligence (AI) instruction in North Carolina schools, from kindergarten through 12th grade, by requiring the State Board of Education to establish age-appropriate standards. The content will cover foundational concepts of AI, real-world applications, and the economic, legal, and social implications associated with AI use, emphasizing responsible and ethical practices. Topics such as privacy, oversight, academic dishonesty, and human bias impact on AI models will be addressed. These standards may be integrated into computer science courses in middle and high schools. The bill becomes effective upon becoming law and applies starting with the 2025-26 school year.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Woodson Bradley proposed the most bills (60) 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.

Chaudhuri graduated from Davidson College in 1991 with a BA and again in 1999 from North Carolina Central University with a JD.

Chaudhuri, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 15th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Terry Van Duyn.