NC lawmakers push free college tuition to combat public safety worker shortage

North Carolina lawmakers advanced House Bill 1203 to provide free community college tuition for children of active public safety workers, including law enforcement, firefighters, and correctional officers with at least 10 years of service, aiming to address staffing shortages. The proposal expands an existing tuition waiver law for families of first responders killed or disabled in the line of duty and is estimated to cost $2 million.