House committee substitute to the 1st edition removes the content of the previous edition and replaces it with the following.

Enacts new GS 115D-73 requiring the State Board of Community Colleges (State Board) to consult with the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, law enforcement agencies, and firearms associations to develop the standards, curriculum, and criteria for instructors for a firearm safety instruction course. Requires that the course be offered by each community college each semester as a noncurricular extension course so that it is open to citizens aged eighteen and older who want to enroll. Makes conforming changes to the Article’s title.

Requires the State Board to develop the course by August 1, 2025, and for community colleges to begin offering the course in the 2025 fall semester.

Appropriates $1 million in recurring funds for 2025-26 and 2026-27 from the General Fund to the Community College System Office to develop and provide funds to community colleges to establish the course. Effective July 1, 2025.

Makes conforming changes to the act’s titles.