On July 7, 2026, Governor Josh Stein signed North Carolina’s state budget into law — and with it, the lifesaving provisions of the Smart Heart Act. Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, every public school in the state must be ready to respond to a sudden cardiac emergency. If you lead a school or district, here is what that means and how to prepare before the first bell.
What the Smart Heart Act requires
The law does far more than ask schools to hang an AED on the wall. Every North Carolina public school must now establish and maintain a written Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP). A compliant plan includes a designated cardiac response team with clear activation protocols, annual CPR and AED training for key staff such as nurses and athletic supervisors, at least one AED placed in an accessible, unlocked location reachable within three minutes with clear signage, coordination with local EMS, annual practice drills, and a yearly review to keep everything current.
Which schools are covered
The requirement applies broadly across North Carolina’s public education system, including traditional public schools, charter schools, and regional schools. If you are unsure whether a specific campus or program falls under the mandate, it is worth confirming your obligations now rather than close to the deadline.
Funding is available — but it pairs with a plan
The state budget includes $4 million to help make AEDs more accessible on school campuses. Schools that do not yet have an AED are funded first — $2,000 per school, prorated if the money runs short — and any remaining funds may support replacing existing AEDs or cardiac emergency response training. Funds may only be used for AED purchase and installation or CERP training. Equipment is only half the equation: a defibrillator saves lives only when staff are trained to use it and a plan tells them exactly what to do. Schools that pair new AEDs with training and a documented CERP will get the most from these dollars.
Why summer is the time to act
Building a complete CERP takes coordination — selecting and placing equipment, scheduling staff certification, running a drill, and assembling the documentation your administration and board will want to see. Starting during the summer means walking into the 2026–27 school year fully compliant instead of scrambling once students return.
How Rescue Beats helps North Carolina schools comply
Rescue Beats delivers the entire Cardiac Emergency Response Plan as one program: we write the plan, train and certify your staff in CPR and AED use through nationally recognized programs, place and maintain your AEDs, and run the drills and documentation that keep you audit-ready year after year. We serve school districts and charters across Raleigh, Durham, and the greater Research Triangle.
This is personal for us. In 2017, Rescue Beats co-founder Bill Amirault survived a cardiac arrest because trained bystanders and an AED were there when it mattered. The Smart Heart Act is built to make sure schools are ready for exactly that moment.
See how we help your school meet the Smart Heart Act → or call or text (919) 372-9657 for a free compliance review.
This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Schools should confirm their specific obligations with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction or legal counsel.