Legislators returned to Raleigh on Wednesday and passed a disaster relief bill (H 149) primarily focused on Hurricane Helene damage. Legislators indicated they expect to return to Raleigh on October 24 and may consider additional storm relief at that time. In addition, they are scheduled to be in session on November 19 during which they may consider budget and other matters.
Disaster Recovery Act of 2024
This bill provides funding and makes policy changes to assist with storm relief. Both houses passed the bill unanimously and Gov. Roy Cooper signed it into law on Thursday.
Some provisions from the bill include:
- Extends to March 1, 2025, the statewide declaration of emergency issued by Gov. Cooper and concurred in by the Council of State. This declaration, among other things, facilitates state emergency operations such as movement of utility vehicles and critical supplies.
- Creates a new Hurricane Helene Fund and appropriates $273M to it from the state’s Savings Reserve Fund. Most of this money ($250M) will go to the state Division of Emergency Management to provide the state’s match for federal disaster assistance funds. Some of the money will also go to a revolving loan program to help local governments and state agencies with cash flow while they are waiting for federal reimbursement.
- Provides $2M to local government associations to provide technical assistance with local recovery funds with grant priority going to counties with populations less than 250,000
- Provides $16M 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 the storm
- Provides $5M to the State Board of Elections and enacts a number of temporary election law changes to assist western North Carolina citizens with voting
- Provides flexibility in the impacted area such as 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
Information about bills and work of the General Assembly can be found at its website: www.ncleg.gov.
