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Primary Sponsor

Not listed.

Last Action

Ch. SL 2025-262025-06-27

Vote Breakdown

Plain Language Summary

This bill appropriates $500 million in emergency funding from the Hurricane Helene Disaster Recovery Fund to help North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Helene and 2025 wildfires. The funds support disaster recovery programs including agricultural assistance, infrastructure repair, local government grants, fire department equipment, university repairs, and a new disaster recovery information portal, while also extending certain regulatory flexibilities and emergency declarations through October 2025.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill provides essential resources for communities devastated by Hurricane Helene, funding critical needs like infrastructure repair, private road and bridge reconstruction, flood mitigation, and agricultural assistance that help farmers and businesses recover.
• •The bill also establishes new programs like local government capital grants based on damage-per-capita formulas and prioritizes funding for smaller, less-resourced counties with populations under 300,000, addressing equity concerns in disaster recovery.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may contend the bill reallocates significant funds from other state programs (including education funding, environmental initiatives, and infrastructure reserves), potentially reducing resources available for non-disaster priorities.
• •Some may argue the authorization for the state railroad dividend and use of substantial credit balance funds from transportation budgets could strain other state services, and they may question whether certain allocations (like specific college grants) are appropriate uses of disaster relief funds.