Signed by Governor Roy Cooper III

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report vote and pass a bill that appropriates emergency funding for the state disaster recovery act part I in North Carolina.

Highlights:

• Amends various policy changes to assist with Hurricane Helene and other storm relief (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Extends to March 1, 2025, the statewide declaration of emergency issued by Gov. Cooper and concurred in by the Council of State, which among other things, facilitates state emergency operations such as the movement of utility vehicles and critical supplies (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Establishes a new Hurricane Helene Fund and appropriates $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund, with $250 million going to the state Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match for federal disaster assistance funds, and the remaining to a revolving loan program to help local governments and state agencies with cash flow while they are waiting for federal reimbursement (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $2 million to local government associations to provide technical assistance with local recovery funds with grant priority going to counties with populations less than 250,000 (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $16 million to the Department of Public Instruction for lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures and grants calendar flexibility to public schools in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $5 million to the State Board of Elections and enacts a number of temporary election law changes to assist western North Carolina citizens with voting (Sec. ).

• Amends flexibility in the impacted storm areas, including (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2):

• Using wastewater and drinking water funds for mitigation or repair;

• Allowing open burning of storm-related debris without an air quality permit;

• Permitting the Governor to waive certain DMV fees;

• Clarifying certain environmental requirements for the repair of the highway system during states of emergency; and 

• Extending certain provisional licenses at adult care homes or family care homes.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Part XVII, Sec. 18-1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report vote and pass a bill that appropriates emergency funding for the state disaster recovery act part I in North Carolina.

Highlights:

• Amends various policy changes to assist with Hurricane Helene and other storm relief (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Extends to March 1, 2025, the statewide declaration of emergency issued by Gov. Cooper and concurred in by the Council of State, which among other things, facilitates state emergency operations such as the movement of utility vehicles and critical supplies (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Establishes a new Hurricane Helene Fund and appropriates $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund, with $250 million going to the state Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match for federal disaster assistance funds, and the remaining to a revolving loan program to help local governments and state agencies with cash flow while they are waiting for federal reimbursement (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $2 million to local government associations to provide technical assistance with local recovery funds with grant priority going to counties with populations less than 250,000 (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $16 million to the Department of Public Instruction for lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures and grants calendar flexibility to public schools in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $5 million to the State Board of Elections and enacts a number of temporary election law changes to assist western North Carolina citizens with voting (Sec. ).

• Amends flexibility in the impacted storm areas, including (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2):

• Using wastewater and drinking water funds for mitigation or repair;

• Allowing open burning of storm-related debris without an air quality permit;

• Permitting the Governor to waive certain DMV fees;

• Clarifying certain environmental requirements for the repair of the highway system during states of emergency; and 

• Extending certain provisional licenses at adult care homes or family care homes.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Part XVII, Sec. 18-1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates emergency funding for the State Disaster Recovery Act Part I in North Carolina.

Highlights:

• Amends various policy changes to assist with Hurricane Helene and other storm relief (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Extends to March 1, 2025, the statewide declaration of emergency issued by Gov. Cooper and concurred in by the Council of State, which among other things, facilitates state emergency operations such as the movement of utility vehicles and critical supplies (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Establishes a new Hurricane Helene Fund and appropriates $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund, with $250 million going to the state Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match for federal disaster assistance funds, and the remaining to a revolving loan program to help local governments and state agencies with cash flow while they are waiting for federal reimbursement (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $2 million to local government associations to provide technical assistance with local recovery funds with grant priority going to counties with populations less than 250,000 (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $16 million to the Department of Public Instruction for lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures and grants calendar flexibility to public schools in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $5 million to the State Board of Elections and enacts a number of temporary election law changes to assist western North Carolina citizens with voting (Sec. ).

• Amends flexibility in the impacted storm areas, including (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2):

• Using wastewater and drinking water funds for mitigation or repair;

• Allowing open burning of storm-related debris without an air quality permit;

• Permitting the Governor to waive certain DMV fees;

• Clarifying certain environmental requirements for the repair of the highway system during states of emergency; and 

• Extending certain provisional licenses at adult care homes or family care homes.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Part XVII, Sec. 18-1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates emergency funding for the State Disaster Recovery Act Part I in North Carolina.

Highlights:

• Amends various policy changes to assist with Hurricane Helene and other storm relief (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Extends to March 1, 2025, the statewide declaration of emergency issued by Gov. Cooper and concurred in by the Council of State, which among other things, facilitates state emergency operations such as the movement of utility vehicles and critical supplies (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Establishes a new Hurricane Helene Fund and appropriates $273 million from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund, with $250 million going to the state Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match for federal disaster assistance funds, and the remaining to a revolving loan program to help local governments and state agencies with cash flow while they are waiting for federal reimbursement (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $2 million to local government associations to provide technical assistance with local recovery funds with grant priority going to counties with populations less than 250,000 (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $16 million to the Department of Public Instruction for lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures and grants calendar flexibility to public schools in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2).

• Appropriates $5 million to the State Board of Elections and enacts a number of temporary election law changes to assist western North Carolina citizens with voting (Sec. ).

• Amends flexibility in the impacted storm areas, including (Part II-IV, Sec. 2.2-4.2):

• Using wastewater and drinking water funds for mitigation or repair;

• Allowing open burning of storm-related debris without an air quality permit;

• Permitting the Governor to waive certain DMV fees;

• Clarifying certain environmental requirements for the repair of the highway system during states of emergency; and 

• Extending certain provisional licenses at adult care homes or family care homes.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Part XVII, Sec. 18-1).

Full Bill Text