Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 — Part I

• §1.1
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  This act shall be known as "The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I."

• §1.2
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  The appropriations and allocations made in this act are for maximum amounts necessary to implement this act.

• §1.3
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  Unless otherwise provided, Part II of this act applies to the North Carolina counties in the affected area, as defined in Section 1.4 of this act.

• §1.4
  ActiveAutoOffice of State Budget and Management · Gov Ops

  Unless otherwise provided, the following definitions apply in this act: (1) Affected area. – The counties designated before, on, or after the effective date of this act under a major disaster declarat

• §2A.1
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  The State Controller shall transfer the sum of two hundred ninety-nine million dollars ($299,000,000) from the SERDRF to the Helene Fund. *H47-v-7*

• §2A.2
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Commerce · NER

  There is appropriated from the Helene Fund the sum of five hundred twenty-four million dollars ($524,000,000) in nonrecurring funds as follows: (1) Notwithstanding G.S. 143B-1040(c), one hundred twent

• §2A.3
  ActiveAutoSocial Services · HHS

  Effective retroactively to October 25, 2024, Section 4B.7 of S.L. 2024-53 reads as rewritten: "SECTION 4B.7.

• §2A.4.(a)
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  The General Assembly finds that: (1) The Hurricane Helene Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal program to provide food assistance to low-income households with food loss or da

• §2A.4.(b)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Commerce · NER

  Notwithstanding S.L. 2024-53 or any provision of the Committee Report of that act to the contrary, the amount for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Item 22, page F-3 of that report

• §2A.4.(c)
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  Section 2.1(a) of S.L. 2024-53 reads as rewritten: "SECTION 2.1.(a) Appropriation of State Funds (Helene Fund). – Appropriations from the Helene Fund for the budgets of State agencies and non-State en

• §2B.1.(a)
  ActiveAutoOffice of Recovery and Resiliency · Gov Ops

  Subpart D of Part 5 of Article 13 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes reads as rewritten: "Subpart D.

• §2B.1.(b)
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  Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective October 1, 2026.

• §2B.2.(a)
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  The State Controller shall transfer the following amounts from the following sources to the Disaster Relief Reserve: (1) One hundred twenty-one million dollars ($121,000,000) from the Savings Reserve.

• §2B.2.(a1)
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  The State Controller shall transfer all funds remaining in the Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Fund that remain unexpended as of the date this act becomes law to the Savings Reserve.

• §2B.2.(c)
  ActiveAutoOffice of Recovery and Resiliency · Gov Ops

  NCORR shall prioritize (i) entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Housing Finance Agency to retrieve eligible funding for the homeowner recovery program and (ii) spending those funds rec

• §2B.2.(d)
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  Funds appropriated to NCORR under this section shall revert to the Savings Reserve on October 1, 2026.

• §2B.3.(a)
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  NCORR shall issue, at a minimum, Notices to Proceed to program-selected contractors for homeowner projects for the homeowner recovery programs for Hurricanes Matthew and Florence under the following s

• §2B.3.(b)
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  The total number of homeowner projects not awarded to contractors shall not exceed the following maximums: (1) By May 1, 2025, 100 projects. (2) By June 1, 2025, 70 projects. (3) By July 1, 2025, 40 p

• §2B.3.(c)
  ActiveAutoOffice of Recovery and Resiliency · Gov Ops

  Projects withdrawn or not eligible for reconstruction or another category of the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief homeowner recovery programs for Hurricanes Matthew and Florence sha

• §2B.3.(d)
  ActiveAutoOffice of Recovery and Resiliency · Gov Ops

  NCORR shall report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations (Commission) and the Fiscal Research Division (i) within five business days of each deadline established in subsection

• §2B.3.(e)
  ActiveAutoOffice of Recovery and Resiliency · Gov Ops

  If the Commission staff determines NCORR is not in compliance with the schedules set forth in this section, then the Commission shall notify NCORR and the chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations

• §2B.4
  ActiveAutoOffice of Recovery and Resiliency · Gov Ops

  Beginning August 1, 2025, NCORR shall report monthly to the Commission and the Fiscal Research Division on all projects completed and unawarded projects in the homeowner recovery program for Hurricane

• §2B.5
  ActiveAutoOffice of State Budget and Management · Gov Ops

  Section 1F.2(d) of S.L. 2024-57 reads as rewritten: "SECTION 1F.2.(d) Reporting. – In addition to the requirements of G.S. 147-64.5(a), the State Auditor shall furnish copies of any and all audits per

• §2C.1.(a)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Public Safety · JPS

  The Private Road and Bridge Repair and Replacement Program (Program) is established within NCEM for the repair and replacement of private roads and bridges damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene.

• §2C.1.(b)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Public Safety · JPS

  HOA Cost-Share. – If a qualifying private road or bridge is owned by a homeowners association (HOA), then NCEM shall enter into a cost-share agreement with the HOA for all project engineering and cons

• §2C.1.(c)
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  If a private road or bridge is repaired or replaced through the Program, the ownership or responsibility for maintenance or safety of the repaired or replaced road or bridge shall not transfer to or b

• §2C.1.(d)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Public Safety · JPS

  If federal assistance or alternative funds are available for the same purposes in subsection (a) of this section, NCEM shall not duplicate efforts or benefits and take all reasonable steps to obtain t

• §2C.1.(e)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Public Safety · JPS

  NCEM shall annually report to the Joint Legislative Emergency Management Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division beginning on June 30, 2025, and ending on June 30, 2029, on the Program.

• §2D.1.(a)
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  It is the intent of the North Carolina General Assembly to review the funds appropriated by Congress for agricultural disaster relief and to consider actions needed to address any remaining unmet need

• §2D.1.(c)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Agriculture and Consumer Services · NER

  Of the funds appropriated in Section 2A.2 of this act and this section to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program, the funds shall be alloca

• §2D.2.(a)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Agriculture and Consumer Services · NER

  The 2024 Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program is established within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

• §2D.2.(b)
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  A person seeking financial assistance for losses of agricultural commodities under the Program shall submit to the Department a Form 578 on file with the USDA Farm Service Agency or a form provided by

• §2D.2.(c)
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  The Department shall administer the financial assistance program authorized by this subpart in accordance with the following criteria: (1) In determining the payment calculation for agricultural commo

• §2D.2.(d)
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  The Department may audit the financial and other records of each recipient of funds in order to ensure that the funds are used in accordance with the requirements of this Program.

• §2D.2.(e)
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  Awarded funds shall be used for agricultural production expenses and recovery of losses due to the impacts of the agricultural disaster.

• §2D.2.(f)
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  If a person receives financial assistance under this Program for which the person is ineligible, or if the amount of the financial assistance received is based on inaccurate information, the person fo

• §2D.2.(g)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Agriculture and Consumer Services · NER

  The following definitions apply in this Program: (1) Agricultural disaster. – A secretarial disaster designation declared by the USDA Secretary for qualifying counties in this State. (2) Agricultural

• §2D.2.(h)
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  The Commissioner of Agriculture may also use the funds appropriated for the Program for purposes related to Hurricane Helene recovery for farmers, including storm debris removal, streambank restoratio

• §2D.2.(i)
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  The Department shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the Fiscal Research Division six months after the Program receiv

• §2D.2.(j)
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  The Program shall expire 30 months after this section becomes effective.

• §2F.1.(a)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Commerce · NER

  There is established the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program to be administered by the Department of Commerce.

• §2F.1.(b)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Commerce · NER

  The following definitions apply in this section: (1) Department. – The Department of Commerce. (2) Eligible local government. – A city or county, as those terms are defined in G.S. 160A-1 and G.S. 153

• §2F.1.(c)
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  An eligible local government with qualifying infrastructure needs, or a small business located therein, may apply for a grant under the program.

• §2F.1.(d)
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  The total grant amount per county in the affected area shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total funds appropriated for the program.

• §2F.1.(e)
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  Grants awarded under this program shall be used by local governments for repairing qualifying infrastructure needs that the Department, in consultation with applicant local governments and small busin

• §2F.1.(f)
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  The total of all funds granted under this program may not exceed the amount allocated to the program under this section.

• §2F.1.(g)
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  The Department may retain up to one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the funds appropriated for the grant program established by this section for administrative expenses.

• §2F.1.(h)
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  Beginning December 15, 2025, and continuing every six months thereafter, the Department shall submit a report on the program to the Joint Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversig

• §2G.1.(a)
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  For purposes of this section, a "participating school unit" is any of the following: (1) All local school administrative units located in the following counties: a.

• §2G.1.(b)
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  Notwithstanding Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes or any other provision of law, following the end of the 2024-2025 school year, participating school units shall offer a Sch

• §2G.1.(c)
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  Only students in grades four through eight that were enrolled in a school in a participating school unit during the 2024-2025 school year are eligible to enroll in the Program.

• §2G.1.(d)
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  The parent or guardian of a student given first priority for enrollment shall be encouraged to enroll the student in the Program, but the parent or guardian shall make the final decision regarding the

• §2G.1.(e)
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  Students enrolled in the Program shall, whenever possible, attend the Program at a school in the public school unit in which the student was enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year.

• §2G.1.(f)
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  A participating school unit shall develop and submit a plan for its Program that meets the requirements of this section to the Department of Public Instruction no later than 30 days prior to the final

• §2G.1.(g)
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  Notwithstanding Articles 19, 20, 21, and Part 3 of Article 22 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes, a participating school unit shall employ teachers and other school personnel as temporary employe

• §2G.1.(h)
  ActiveAutoPublic Education · Education

  No later than April 1, 2025, the Department of Public Instruction shall make available to all public school units that may participate in the Program under subsection (a) of this section a list of all

• §2G.1.(i)
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  By October 15, 2025, school units shall report all of the following to the Department of Public Instruction: (1) The number of students offered first priority enrollment in the Program, and the total

• §2G.1.(j)
  ActiveAutoPublic Education · Education

  No later than January 15, 2026, the Department of Public Instruction shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the following: (1) Implementation of the School Extension Le

• §2G.1.(k)
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  The Office of Learning Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (OLR) shall study the overall effectiveness of the School Extension Learning Recovery Program, as well as the impact

• §2G.1.(l)
  ActiveAutoPublic Education · Education

  Of the funds appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction in this act, the sum of nine million dollars ($9,000,000) in nonrecurring funds shall be used for the School Extension Learning Recove

• §2G.1.(m)
  ActiveAutoPublic Education · Education

  Funds appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction under this section shall revert to the Helene Fund on October 15, 2025.

• §3.1
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  In accordance with G.S. 166A-19.20(c)(2), the statewide declaration of emergency issued by the Governor in Executive Order No. 315, concurred to by the Council of State, and extended by Section 3.1 of

• §4.1.(a)
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  Except as otherwise provided, funds appropriated under Part II of this act shall revert to the Savings Reserve if not expended or encumbered by June 30, 2030.

• §4.1.(b)
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  A recipient of State funds under this act shall use best efforts and take all reasonable steps to obtain alternative funds that cover the losses or needs for which the State funds are provided, includ

• §4.1.(c)
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  If a recipient obtains alternative funds pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the recipient shall remit the funds to the State agency from which the State funds were received.

• §4.1.(d)
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  Any contract or other instrument entered into by a recipient for receipt of funds under this act shall include the requirements set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

• §4.1.(e)
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  The Governor may not use the funds described in this act to make budget adjustments under G.S. 143C-6-4 or to make reallocations under G.S. 166A-19.40(c).

• §4.1.(f)
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  The Governor shall ensure that funds allocated in this act are expended in a manner that does not adversely affect any person's or entity's eligibility for federal funds that are made available, or th

• §4.1.(g)
  ActiveAutoOffice of State Budget and Management · Gov Ops

  Beginning May 15, 2025, for the previous quarter, OSBM shall report to the chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees and to the Fiscal Research Division of the Genera

• §4.1.(h)
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  Subsection (g) of this section supersedes Section 7.1(h) of S.L. 2024-51, as amended by Section 5.6 of S.L. 2024-53, and Section 3.1(g) of S.L. 2024-53 (collectively, the prior reporting requirements)

• §4.2.(a)
  ActiveAutoOffice of the Governor · Gov Ops

  The Office of the Governor of North Carolina shall report to the Office of the State Auditor all disaster relief funds allocated to Hurricane Helene relief that have been disbursed as of the enactment

• §4.2.(b)
  ActiveAutoOffice of the Governor · Gov Ops

  The Office of the Governor shall send the required information and documents, in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, relating to funds already disbursed to the Office of the State Auditor

• §4.2.(c)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Public Safety · JPS

  The State Auditor shall produce a report of funds expended for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina upon the request of the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.

• §4.2.(d)
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  The State Auditor shall provide and maintain a public online dashboard that compares the amount of funds appropriated by the legislature with the amount expended by the executive branch for Hurricane

• §5.2
  ActiveAutoTransportation · Transportation

  To facilitate the permanent installation of broadband infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene, all of the following shall apply: (1) If a roadway constructor is repairing, rebuilding, or reconstruc

• §5.3.(a)
  ActiveAutoDepartment of Adult Correction · JPS

  The Department of Adult Correction shall coordinate with the Department of Transportation to allow for the use of inmates to clean up debris resulting from Hurricane Helene on public roads and roadsid

• §5.3.(b)
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  Section 19C.10(a) of S.L. 2021-180 reads as rewritten: "SECTION 19C.10.(a) Notwithstanding G.S. 162-58, and consistent with the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 148 of the General Statutes, sheriffs

• §5.3.(c)
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  Subsection (b) of this section is effective when it becomes law and applies to debris removal resulting from disaster declarations made before, on, or after that date.

• §5.4.(a)
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  Article 3 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: "§ 143-49.2.

• §5.4.(b)
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  Article 3A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read: "Part 4.

• §5.5
  ActiveAutoTransportation · Transportation

  The Department of Transportation shall enter into a contract with a third-party administrator to expeditiously seek reimbursement from FEMA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for all qualif

• §5.6.(a)
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  G.S. 90-210.27A(a1) reads as rewritten: "(a1) If the preparation room of a funeral establishment is damaged or destroyed by fire, weather, weather event, or other natural disaster, the Board may suspe

• §5.6.(b)
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  The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section.

• §5.7.(a)
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  Notwithstanding any local government development regulation to the contrary, and to the extent allowed by federal law, reconstruction or repair of a nonconforming residential structure in the affected

• §5.7.(b)
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  For purposes of this section, "development regulation" means a unified development ordinance, zoning regulation, subdivision regulation, historic preservation or landmark regulation, or any other regu

• §5.7.(c)
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  This section is effective when it becomes law and expires June 30, 2030.

• §5.8.(a)
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  Notwithstanding G.S. 115C-84.2(a)(1) or any other provision of State law to the contrary, for any instructional days or equivalent hours missed due to inclement weather during the months of December 2

• §5.8.(b)
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  All employees and contractors of a public school unit granted school calendar flexibility under subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to have worked for any scheduled instructional days misse

• §5.8.(c)
  ActiveAutoPublic Education · Education

  Notwithstanding any provision of Section 6.1(a)(2) of S.L. 2024-51 to the contrary, of the funds appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction in Section 6.1(a)(2) of S.L. 2024-51, the Departme

• §5.8.(d)
  ActiveAutoPublic Education · Education

  No later than May 1, 2025, the Department of Public Instruction shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division the following information for each

• §5.9
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  Section 4B.3 of S.L. 2024-53 reads as rewritten: "SECTION 4B.3.(a) Waiver of Collaborative Practice Agreement Rules. – Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, neither the North Car

• §5.10
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  Utilities are responsible for obtaining easements arising from land acquisition for pole and transformer replacement and repair.

• §5.11
  ActiveAutoDepartment of State Treasurer · Gov Ops

  Section 12.1 of S.L. 2024-51 reads as rewritten: "SECTION 12.1.(a) For individuals who retired under the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS) on or after April 1, 2024, but before

• §5.12.(a)
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  For purposes of this section, "2024 North Carolina State Building Code" means the North Carolina State Building Code collection and amendments to the Code, as adopted by the Building Code Council, eff

• §5.12.(b)
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  Notwithstanding G.S. 143-138(d), Section 2 of S.L. 2013-118, Section 1F.3.(b) of S.L. 2024-57, or any other provision to the contrary, the 2024 North Carolina State Building Code shall become effectiv

• §5.12.(c)
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  Upon the occurrence of both events specified in subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of this section, the State Fire Marshal shall send certification as required under subsection (b) of this sec

• §5.12.(d)
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  Nothing in this section abrogates the duties of the Building Code Council or Residential Code Council during the delay created by subsection (b) of this section, including finalizing its publication,

• §5.12.(e)
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  This section expires 12 months after the first day of the month following the notification required by the State Fire Marshal in subsection (c) of this section.

• §6.1
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  Any provision extended under Part III or Section 5.1 of this act shall be retroactively effective on March 1, 2025, unless otherwise prohibited by law.

• §6.2
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  The headings to the parts and sections of this act are a convenience to the reader and are for reference only.

• §6.3
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  If any section or provision of this act is declared unconstitutional or invalid by the courts, it does not affect the validity of this act as a whole or any part other than the part so declared to be

• §6.4
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  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.

Sections with appropriations (103 sections, 8 entries)