Rep. Budd files bill in North Carolina House to require suicide prevention education in schools

A new bill filed by State Rep. Laura Budd in the North Carolina House seeks to integrate suicide prevention education into school mental health policies across the state, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 578 on March 31 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘The Jason Flatt Act of North Carolina.’

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

In essence, this bill mandates that all K-12 public, charter, regional, and laboratory schools in North Carolina integrate suicide prevention education into their existing school-based mental health policies starting with the 2025-26 school year. The State Board of Education is tasked with developing model mental health training programs that include requirements for suicide prevention education and suicide risk referral protocols, specifically targeting school personnel working with students in grades six through 12. All licensed educators must partake in suicide prevention education, which will delve deeper into youth suicide awareness than general mental health training. An initial six-hour mental health training will be required within the first six months of employment, followed by annual two-hour training sessions. Furthermore, an additional one hour of suicide prevention education must coincide with these subsequent trainings. Schools are afforded flexibility in delivery methods, including electronic, video, in-person, self-study, or approved programs. The bill also limits civil liability for school personnel unless gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing is involved. It is effective upon enactment.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Donny Lambeth proposed the most bills (44) 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.

Budd graduated from Ohio University in 1999 with a BA and again in 2002 from Wake Forest University School of Law with a JD.

Budd, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 103rd House district, replacing previous state representative Rachel Hunt.