Bill filed in NC Senate seeks $150 million for housing efforts in Helene-impacted areas
Senate Bill 200, which was filed by state senators Warren Daniel (R-Burke), Tim Moffitt (R-Henderson), and Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe), proposes 'an act to appropriate additional funds to the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund' to assist with hurricane relief.
PREVIOUS: Another $500M for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina passes key hurdle
The 'nonrecurring funds' would amount to $150 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year — all dedicated to housing support for portions of the state affected by Hurricane Helene, which left extreme devastation to western North Carolina in late September 2024.
If passed through the General Assembly, this bill would go into effect on July 1.
Earlier this week, the North Carolina House unanimously approved a measure that would spend another $500 million toward Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. If enacted, the bill would add to the funds the Republican-controlled General Assembly already voted in late 2024 to spend on disaster recovery activities following the historic flooding in the mountains.
RELATED: NC Governor Stein requests $20 billion in Helene recovery funds
But Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who took office in January, requested earlier this month that legislators approve more than double that amount — $1.07 billion. He says those funds can't wait until conventional state budget negotiations likely would wrap up early this summer and that struggling businesses, displaced residents and public school students need help now.
GOP lawmakers agree more funds need to move fast to the region, but say they want to be careful about maximizing federal matching funds and avoiding mistakes after previous storms. They also agree with Stein that more Helene aid will be approved in the months ahead.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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