Amends GS 115C-407.55(2) to include “youth mental health first aid” and the newly created GS 115C-407.57 and GS 115C-407.57A in the list of student health and safety rules during interscholastic athletic activities.

Creates new GS 115C-407.57A (Rules on mental health first aid training for coaches), requiring the State Board of Education (SBE) in consultation with the listed entities to select and publish a list of approved youth mental health first aid training programs that train coaches on recognizing the signs of mental health challenges and substance abuse, assisting youth that are experiencing these challenges, and connecting youth with professional assistance. Directs the SBE to adopt rules requiring coaches and athletic directors to obtain and maintain unexpired certifications from the approved training programs. Requires middle and high schools to maintain records that show compliance with the training requirements.

Creates new GS 160A-358 (youth athletics), that defines “youth athletics organization” as any local government entity, nonprofit organization, or other entity that organizes and conducts athletic competitions for children under 18. Requires counties and cities to receive proof from a youth athletics organization that all coaches have an unexpired certification from a youth mental health first aid training program approved by the SBE before allowing the organization to use any park, recreational center or facility. Requires the county or city to maintain records that show compliance with the training requirements.

Provides that the SBE shall select the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's Youth Mental Health First Aid course and Teen Mental Health First Aid course as the approved training programs and publish those selections no later than March 1, 2026, and annually thereafter until March 1, 2030, if the courses continue to exist. Allows the SBE to review the courses and possibly select other courses beginning March 1, 2031, or earlier if there is evidence of substantial changes to the curriculum.

Applicable beginning July 1, 2026.