North Carolina lawmakers send $1.4 billion Helene recovery package to governor's desk
Why it matters: The fate of additional Helene recovery funds has been in question for months, with the Republican-led House and Senate sparring over what to include in the legislation. Meanwhile, the western part of the state is still reeling from the devastation left in Helene's wake.
Driving the news: The chambers came to an agreement in the final hours of the last day of session, with both the House and Senate unanimously passing a bill that puts $700 million in new state funding toward Helene recovery efforts. It also allocates an additional nearly $700 million in federal funding to repair drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
The bill will now go to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who is expected to sign it. If he does, that will bring the state's Helene-related allocations to $2.1 billion.
Zoom in: The final proposal does not include $60 million for Helene business recovery grants, which the House proposed in a previous version of the legislation. Though Democrats said the legislation should have included funding for small business grants, they ultimately supported it.
The proposal also does not include a House-proposed provision that would have clawed back $500 million in funding for NCInnovation and put it toward Helene recovery.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
33 minutes ago
- Business Insider
How Trump's Megabill Affects Your Taxes
On Thursday, the House voted 218-214 in favor of passing President Trump's bill. Today, Trump will hold a bill signing ceremony at 5 p.m. Eastern Time to sign the bill into law. Don't Miss TipRanks' Half-Year Sale Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. Of course, the topic that many American citizens are concerned about is the tax implications of the bill. Let's dive in. First, the standard deduction will increase to $15,750 from $15,000 for single filers and $31,500 from $30,000 for married couples filing jointly. Next, the maximum state and local tax (SALT) deduction will rise to $40,000 from $10,000. It will increase by 1% through 2029 before reverting to $10,000 in 2030. However, all filers making more than $500,000 per year will be subject to SALT deduction phase-outs. The deduction only applies to people who choose to file an itemized tax return. Specific Tax Breaks from Trump's Megabill Parents will benefit from the bill, as the child tax credit will increase by 10% to $2,200 from $2,000 beginning next year. Workers who receive tips will be able to deduct up to $25,000 of tip money from their taxes. The deduction is lower for workers making more than $150,000. Overtime workers will receive a maximum overtime pay deduction of $12,500 for single filers making up to $150,000 and $25,000 for married couples. The new policies for tip and overtime workers only apply on a federal level and not on a state level; they will be in effect from 2025 to 2028. For car buyers, the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit for new vehicles and $4,000 tax credit for used EVs will expire on September 30. At the same time, taxpayers will be able to deduct up to $10,000 in auto loan interest payments from their taxable income if the purchased vehicle is made in the U.S. The deduction decreases for those with an income above $100,000. Finally, people above the age of 65 making $75,000 or less will be able to deduct $6,000 from their taxable income. Married seniors making $150,000 or less will be able to do the same.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Helen Hunt, 62, Sends a Bold Political Message With Photos Flaunting Ageless Beauty
Helen Hunt, 62, Sends a Bold Political Message With Photos Flaunting Ageless Beauty originally appeared on Parade. sent a bold political message in support of for Michigan governor while flaunting her ageless beauty in new photos. On Tuesday, July 1, the As Good as It Gets actress, 62, took to Instagram with two snaps of herself and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 "Michigan, you have the fiercest, most qualified candidate running for Governor," Hunt captioned her update. "@jocelynbenson has put her life on the line for Americans her whole life. She walks the walk. Donate now to her campaign. 5 dollars?! It will make you feel more hopeful. The next Governor of Michigan!" In the featured picture, the Twister star smiled while rocking her natural gray hair and standing beside Benson. The second shot showed the two women embracing each other. Check out their timeless looks, below! Hunt disabled comments on her post. However, she recently spoke about the importance of voting as part of the I Will Vote initiative. "In order to ensure America's government reflects our values, I feel a responsibility to my country and myself to play my role in shaping it," she explained in a video. "There's more at stake now than there ever has been before." Hunt concluded, "We must never underestimate the power of our voices and our vote to impact change. So I'm going to cast my ballot on Election Day, and I hope you will, too." Next: Helen Hunt, 62, Sends a Bold Political Message With Photos Flaunting Ageless Beauty first appeared on Parade on Jul 1, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Emanuel: Dems will be ‘fools' if they don't put midterm focus on Trump megabill
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a recent interview weighed in on the passage of the 'big, beautiful bill,' suggesting it will be a major sticking point in next year's midterm elections. Asked by CNN's David Chalian if the bill will become 'the centerpiece' of Democrats' messaging, Emanuel replied, 'If it doesn't, we're fools.' 'As I've argued before, the bills should be just captured [as] 'tax cuts for the wealthy, health care cuts for the many,' he told the host of the outlet's 'Political Briefing' podcast, which aired before President Trump signed the legislation, full of his domestic priorities, into law Friday. 'People get that.' 'It's already underwater,' Emanuel added. 'There's nothing about reducing health care benefits for working people that is going to make it more popular.' The pundit also criticized the bill for being sympathetic to billionaires, giving the example of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who held an extravagant wedding as lawmakers scrambled to unite over the megabill. The House passed the final bill Thursday afternoon after hours of tense debate and with help from President Trump, who spoke to several GOP holdouts ahead of the crucial vote. The Senate a day earlier pushed through their own bill, after adjusting the language to satisfy the parliamentarian's Byrd Rule. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) had voiced optimism throughout the process that they would have the legislation to Trump's desk by July 4. While they ultimately made good on the promise, it did not come without hiccups. From internal skepticism among the GOP over cuts to Medicaid and food stamps to how it would impact the national debt to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' (D-N.Y.) record-breaking 'magic minute' speech that delayed the vote, the bill faced an uphill battle. Trump took a victory lap over the bill during a speech in Iowa, calling it a 'declaration of independence from a really national decline.' On Friday, during a signing ceremony, the president echoed the sentiment. 'This is a triumph of democracy on the birthday of democracy,' he said. 'And I have to say, the people are happy.' Democrats in both chambers have made it clear that they will use the legislation — which they dubbed the 'big, ugly bill' or the 'big, beautiful betrayal' — as fodder against the GOP in the upcoming midterms, zeroing in on the health care and food assistance cuts and the rollback of green energy tax credits. Emanuel's critique comes as the former mayor, who also previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Japan, has stoked speculation in recent weeks over whether he could launch a presidential bid in 2028. 'I have something I think I can offer,' he told CNN's Kaitlan Collins last month. 'But I haven't made that decision.'
