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The North Carolina Senate unanimously approved the fifth Hurricane Helene relief package, bringing the total state funding dedicated to Western North Carolina recovery to more than $2.1 billion.
House Bill 1012 sets aside $700 million in the Hurricane Helene Relief Fund and then appropriates $500 million from that fund. It also reallocates nearly $300 million within the Department of Transportation budget for recovery needs.
The compromise package includes:
- $70 million for local government capital repairs
- $51.5 million in additional funding for the local government cash-flow loan program
- $5 million to support tourism efforts
- $25 million to help farmers in the impacted area with farm infrastructure losses
- $75 million for construction and reimbursement of privately owned roads and bridges
- $64.3 million for the repair and reconstruction of damaged schools
- $18 million for fire stations and rescue squads in Western North Carolina
- $15 million for the North Carolina Forest Service for wildfire assets and preparedness
- $12.25 million through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to repair damaged state park facilities and expedite reopening
- $15 million to the Selectsite fund to support economic development in the impacted area
Additionally, it extends the Hurricane Helene State of Emergency to Oct. 1.
The House also approved House Bill 1012, sending it to Gov. Josh Stein who has now signed it in to law.
House Bill 251, Various Disaster Recovery Reforms, was also signed in to law. It makes numerous different changes to state law including:
• Prohibit discrimination based on political affiliation or political speech by the State when providing disaster recovery assistance.
• Make it a Class F felony for any person to loot another person's temporary housing in an emergency area during a declared state of emergency.
The General Assembly has entered into a summer recess, and I will be sure to keep you up to date on anything new.
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