(The Center Square) – Nearly $300 million of a $500 million aid package to western North Carolina is to help assist farmers and restore farmland, and to rebuild and repair homes.
The package in Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1, also known as House Bill 47, sends $150 million for agriculture and $140 million for residential relief. There’s another $100 million for private roads and bridges.
Passage in the House of Representatives was unanimous among the 116 in attendance. Senate passage and a signature from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein would enact the law immediately.
The Legislature has thus far appropriated $1.1 billion. Damage estimates were $53 billion from Gov. Roy Cooper last fall and nearing $60 billion from Stein this month as he met with North Carolina’s senators in Washington.
“Ensuring western North Carolina recovers swiftly and responsibly remains our top priority in the House,” Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said in a late-afternoon statement. “For that reason, House Bill 47 is the first legislation voted on and approved this session. I am proud of the work of the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery, our western North Carolina delegation and others accomplished to pass this crucial legislation, and I’m encouraged by the overwhelming support it received today.”
Unlike a December 132-page bill with the first 13 pages on Hurricane Helene relief and the rest on authority changes, this 11-pager was all Helene.
The bill also appropriates $55 million for small business infrastructure grants; $20 million to remove debris; $10 million each for essential volunteer organizations, volunteer fire departments and rental assistance; and $5 million for travel and tourism marketing.
This is the 21st week of recovery.
In the earlier packages by the Legislature, the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 passed Oct. 9. The $273 million package was mostly to different state agencies and local governments which can then use the money to help those most affected. It included $250 million for the state and local match of federal disaster assistance programs; $16 million for the Department of Public Instruction for school nutrition employee compensation; $5 million for the State Board of Elections Administration changes; and $2 million to the Office of State Budget and Management for grants.
The bill also included assistance in education; agriculture and environmental quality; transportation; retirements; taxes; the Department of Health and Human Services; and some election-related changes.
The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 – Part II was passed Oct. 24. This legislation provided more than $877 million toward relief, and another $40 million for four other storms. The largest portions were $100 million to the Local Government Commission, $100 million to the Department of Environmental Quality, and $75 million for state and local match of federal disaster assistance programs.
The third package, Disaster Relief-3/Budget/Various Law Changes, required a veto override to get through and has since been litigated. The legislation was 132 pages, the first 13 of which were related to Helene and the remainder for the “various law changes” that include shifting authorities from elected offices. The latter was the sticking point.
Congress approved in December about $9 billion of a $110 billion package to the state. This does not include FEMA money, projected in the billions of dollars. The total is expected to help block development programs; farmers; infrastructure to include roads, highways and bridges; and drinking water infrastructure.
