N.C. House Introduces Second Helene Recovery Bill
Today, the North Carolina House introduced the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025- Part II. This legislation provides for over $450 million in additional recovery funding, bringing the total legislative allocation for Helene to over $1.85 billion. In contrast, the N.C. Senate included over $700 million in its proposed budget, and Governor Stein proposed over $891 million in additional spending.
Here are the top priorities in the House’s second Helene recovery bill:
$70 million in additional state funds to match federal recovery programs.
$60 million in Small Business Disaster Grants, up to $100,000 per small business, based on a 20% loss threshold.
$50 million for local governments to fulfill unmet and unreimbursed capital needs.
$30 million in additional funds for private road and bridge reconstruction.
$30 million for agricultural and general debris removal.
$25 million to reconstruct damaged schools, and $8 million for additional school repairs.
$20 million for flood mitigation programs to rebuild at-risk infrastructure.
$20 million to support volunteer organizations directly assisting in recovery efforts.
$18 million for grants to fire stations and EMS units across Western North Carolina.
$15 million for firefighting equipment and contract personnel to enhance wildfire preparedness.
Tim’s Take: One of the key disagreements between the House and Senate is not whether or not to provide additional funding to help, but whether to pass it in a standalone package or as part of the budget. The House wants to pass it as a standalone package, while the Senate wants to include it in the budget. The Senate argues that addressing these needs through the normal budget process is more fiscally responsible. The House’s Helene recovery bill provides a vehicle for bipartisan cooperation on recovery by addressing the issue separately from the state’s other financial obligations.
