North Carolina Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto of HB 805 Protecting Women's and Children's Rights

The Wake County Schools Board meeting on August 5, 2025, featured significant discussions regarding compliance with North Carolina's recently passed HB 805, which aims to clarify the recognition of biological sex and enhance parental rights in educational settings.

During the public comment period, a speaker raised concerns about the implications of HB 805 for Wake County Schools. The speaker emphasized that the law recognizes only two sexes—male and female—and criticized the district's existing policies for using "gender" interchangeably with "sex," which they argued is not legally or biologically accurate. They called for immediate action to align school policies with the new law.

The speaker also highlighted specific requirements of HB 805, including the need for school library materials to be listed in an online catalog accessible from each school's homepage. They pointed out that currently, no Wake County schools have such links, raising questions about how classroom library books are cataloged and how parents can restrict their children's access to certain materials.

Additionally, the law mandates that schools provide advance notice to parents regarding specific classroom discussions or assigned readings, allowing parents to excuse their children from these activities on religious grounds. The speaker criticized the current policy for not requiring advance notice and for allowing a lengthy response time to parental complaints.

In conclusion, the speaker urged the board to take immediate action to revise policies and ensure compliance with HB 805, emphasizing the importance of transparency, accountability, and respect for parental rights and biological realities. The board's response to these concerns and the steps they will take to comply with the law remain to be seen.