House adopts $524 million Hurricane Helene relief conference report; bill goes to Senate

The North Carolina House on March 18 adopted the conference report for House Bill 47, the Disaster Recovery Act of 03/2025, allocating $524,000,000 for recovery from Hurricane Helene and other disaster relief, and ordered the measure sent to the Senate after a 115–1 recorded vote.

Representative Greene, speaking on the floor after the conference report was read, said: “They listened to our input and, made some changes, as to some things they had added so that we ended up with a, I think, a very good compromise bill on this that we can, send on.” The conference report, approved by appointed conferees on March 18, compiles changes agreed between House and Senate negotiators.

The conference report directs $524 million in total disaster funding. Key allocations named on the House floor include: $217,000,000 to complete rebuilding in Eastern North Carolina; $120,000,000 for rebuilding and repairing homes in Helene-affected areas; $100,000,000 for repair of private roads and bridges; $55,000,000 for small-business infrastructure grants; $20,000,000 for large-scale debris removal; $10,000,000 for volunteer organizations assisting recovery; $10,000,000 for volunteer fire departments; $9,000,000 for learning recovery in Helene-affected counties; $4,000,000 for travel and tourism marketing; and expanded eligibility for school calendar flexibility related to missed school days.

Representative Greene and other supporters emphasized agricultural relief within the package. Greene said the final compromise included $200,000,000 for Helene-related crop loss and agricultural infrastructure and about $110,500,000 in additional statewide agricultural funding tied to prior disasters and drought. The bill also addresses $207,000,000 in unmet needs pending when Helene occurred, according to Greene.

Representative Jones urged approval, saying the Eastern part of the state has repeatedly required additional help. “This $217,000,000 will put people back in homes,” Jones said on the floor. Representative Edgar thanked conferees for the quick turnaround and urged colleagues to vote in favor to get money out the door quickly.

Members questioned and discussed several items before the vote. Representative Harrison asked about a building-code provision added in the Senate; Representative Brody explained the conference language delays certain building-code changes until one year after the new building-code council is seated, a measure intended to avoid confusion over which code applies to rebuilding projects.

The House adopted the report by voice and roll-call; the clerk reported 115 yeas and 1 nay. The conference report will be transmitted to the Senate for final action.

The bill text and the conference report specify program and county eligibility details and conferees’ names; the House reading included the list of appointed conferees from both chambers and the conference approval date, March 18, 2025.

Votes and further procedural steps will be reported when the Senate acts on the conference report.