RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Gov. Josh Stein sign a bill Wednesday night that provides more than $500 million in aid to western North Carolina in its recovery process from Hurricane Helene.
The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1, or House Bill 47, is Stein’s first bill he’s signed into law since taking office in January, and one that’s seen strong bipartisan support.
“This funding is a promising step forward in the long road to recovery for western North Carolina,” Stein said, speaking in front of state legislative leaders. “I want to thank the General Assembly for working together to pass this critical aid package to help our neighbors rebuilding after Helene. But we are nowhere near done — I will keep pushing to ensure western North Carolina is not forgotten.”
The $524 million allocated for western NC provide funding for farmers, local governments, private roads and more. Here’s how the funding is allotted:
- $200 million for North Carolina farmers who have experienced crop losses due to Helene
- $120 million for a Community Block Development Grant-Disaster Recovery Home Reconstruction and Repair program,
- $55 million for local government infrastructure grants to help small businesses
- $100 million to repair the more than 8,000 private roads and bridges
- $20 million for debris cleanup
- $9 million for a school extension learning recovery program
The bill also extends the statewide declaration of emergency for Hurricane Helene until June 30. In addition to supporting needs in the western part of the state, the bill provides $217 million to get people back into their homes in eastern North Carolina from previous hurricanes.
At his State of State address last week, Stein lamented not having the bill finalized by then and called for the federal government to “step up” too.
In December, the controversial Senate Bill 382 passed via an overridden veto that called for the transfer of $227 million from the state’s “rainy day” fund to Helene relief.
