Establishes a Competitive Speech and Debate Team Grant Pilot Program (Program) to allow public schools serving students in grades 9 through 12 in the state to form a speech and debate team and allow the team to participate in speech and debate competitions. Mandates that the program will begin the 2025-26 school year and conclude at the end of the 2028-29 school year. Allows eligible schools to apply to the Department of Public Instruction (Department) for a grant. Requires the Department to develop and publish application guidelines and criteria for the Program by August 1 of each year funds are made available. Mandates that applications be accepted until September 30 of each school year and requires applications to include a proposed budget for the team, at minimum. Requires the Department to award of grants by October 31 of each year and sets the amount for each award to be $10,000 maximum per team per school year and provides purposes for which the funds can be used and limitations. Requires teams receiving funding through the Program to participate in the Tarheel Forensic League and National Speech and Debate Association. Allows student participation on a team at the geographically closest school to their residence if the school they are enrolled in does not offer a speech and debate team, but the student must be responsible for transportation to and from the school where the team meets. Clarifies that schools can enforce other guidelines for student participation in extracurricular activities like academic performance requirements and can conduct a selection process for the team if an eligible student from another school can participate as if enrolled in that school. Details reporting requirements for the Department to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee and Fiscal Research Division.

Adds two members to the board of directors of the Tarheel Forensic League, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House and one by the President Pro Tempore of Senate, provides instructions for appointment, term lengths, limitations on appointment for membership. Prohibits compensation for appointed members and limits per diems and allowances as described.

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction per fiscal year for the 2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29 fiscal years for the Department to establish and administer the Program.

Effective July 1, 2025 and applies beginning with the 2025-26 school year.