John Chadwick "Chad" Barefoot (born May 10, 1983) is a former Republican member of the North Carolina Senate, representing North Carolina's 18th Senate district from 2013 to 2018. Senate District 18 covers Franklin County and parts of eastern and southern Wake County.
A native of Thomasville, he won his first election in 2012 and was reelected in 2014 and 2016. He did not run for reelection in 2018. During his time in office, Barefoot served as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education/Higher Education and the Senate Education/Higher Education Committee. Barefoot also served on the Appropriations/Base Budget, Finance, and Rules and Operations of the Senate Committees.
Chad holds a Master of Arts in Christian Ethics from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, and a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in public management from Appalachian State University.
Election results
In his first run for elective office, Barefoot won a three-way Republican primary race over Rep. Glen Bradley and Michael Shriver in May 2012.
He faced incumbent Sen. Doug Berger in the general election in November 2012, and won with approximately 56 percent of the vote.
In 2014, Barefoot faced Democrat Sarah Crawford in the general election. Barefoot won with approximately 53 percent of the vote.
In 2016, Barefoot faced Democrat Gil Johnson in the general election. Barefoot won with approximately 55 percent of the vote.
Barefoot did not face a primary opponent in the 2014 or 2016 elections.
Legislative initiatives
Student Data Privacy
In his first term, Barefoot successfully passed into law one of the most comprehensive student data privacy bills in the country. Senate Bill 815 requires the North Carolina State Board of Education to make publicly available information regarding the student data system and create safeguards to ensure the privacy and security of personally identifiable data in the student data system. The law restricts the collection of biometric information, political affiliation, religion, and voting history from being collected into the student data system.
In the 2015-16 session, Barefoot passed into law the Student Online Protection Act, which creates a new statute governing student data privacy requirements for operators of third-party online educational applications for K-12 students. The law specifically prohibits renting and selling student data, building student profiles for non-educational reasons, and engaging in targeted advertising using student data. The Student Online Protection Act also directs third-party operators to implement and maintain security procedures to protect covered information, and prohibits operators from using personally identifiable information for any purpose other than the administration of school activities.
Apprenticeships
During the 2015 legislative session, Barefoot successfully repealed the fee that businesses were required to pay to participate in the apprenticeship program. In the 2016 session, Barefoot successfully included a provision in the budget that waives tuition and registration fees at North Carolina Community Colleges for students participating in registered apprenticeship programs, allowing these students to earn a credential or Associate Degree in their field. Additionally, state funding for the apprenticeship program has increased by more than $500,000 under Barefoot's chairmanship of the Senate's Education Appropriations Committee.
Students Know Before You Go
Barefoot introduced a bill entitled, "Students Know Before You Go" to the 2015 legislative session. Senate Bill 536 directs the State Education Assistance Authority to provide information to students and parents on the cost of college degree programs, the likelihood of employment and the average salary associated with those degrees. The bill also directs the NCSEAA to provide students and parents with information on projected employment needs of the state, college majors that may fulfill those needs and the associated salary ranges for those areas of employment. Senate Bill 536 was signed into law in 2016.