Senate Passes Third Round of Helene Funding, Good-government Reforms

Puts total state dollars committed to Helene relief at $1.1 billion

State Board of Elections moved to State Auditor’s Office

Attorney General’s office required to put law and order above politics

Raleigh, N.C. — Today, Senate Republicans passed Senate Bill 382, which includes $252 million for Hurricane Helene relief. It now heads to Gov. Roy Cooper for his consideration.

If enacted into law, Senate Bill 382 will bring the total amount appropriated for Helene relief to $1.1 billion. The bill also provides the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR), Gov. Cooper’s troubled storm relief agency, with another $50 million to keep it afloat. The Office of State Budget and Management will be required to monitor NCORR’s spending and operations, and the State Auditor will conduct additional financial and performance audits of NCORR by July 1, 2025

“We’ve seen a lot of progress in the last two months, but we know our hurricane recovery efforts cannot stop. This has been a historic legislative response, and we’re going to keep working with our local and federal representatives so Western North Carolina can fully recover from this tragedy,” said Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon).

Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Burke) said, “This third round of funding puts the state government’s total commitment toward Helene relief at $1.1 billion. We have never moved so much money for storm recovery in such a short period of time. More needs to be done, and we will continue working to make sure Western North Carolina is getting everything it needs to recover.”

Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) said, “As families in Western North Carolina head into the winter season, there remains a long list of housing, infrastructure, and relief needs. The bill we passed today frees up an additional $252 million for the western region. Every dollar counts and this marks another positive step in our long road to recovery.”

Sen. Tim Moffitt (R-Henderson) said, “Even though we are two months past the storm, Hurricane Helene victims are still struggling to get back on their feet. It’s critical they aren’t left behind, and I’m thankful for all of those who have volunteered to help in the region. The legislature hasn’t forgotten Western North Carolina — our recovery efforts will be ongoing and effective.”

Outside of Helene relief, Senate Bill 382 includes several policy changes that will rebalance the three branches of government, and better spread authority among executive branch members, the General Assembly, and the judicial branch.

The State Board of Elections will be moved from under the governor’s authority to the Office of the State Auditor. The auditor would then appoint members to the State Board of Elections. Further, to help prevent ballot counting from dragging on for weeks, the bill requires that all absentee ballots received before 7:30 p.m. on Election Day be counted on Election Day. The bill also moves forward the absentee ballot request deadline from one week before Election Day to two weeks before Election Day.

“It’s no secret that our State Board of Elections has been plagued by political interference from the governor’s office. For years Republicans have tried to bring true bipartisanship to the State Board by giving Republicans and Democrats equal representation, but Democrats have fought us every step of the way. Now, we are moving forward with a solution that will place the State Board under the Office of the State Auditor, and rid election administration of the blatant partisan politics that have destroyed the State Board’s credibility and impartiality,” Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said.

Senate Bill 382 targets the politicization of the Department of Justice by ensuring the Attorney General does not undermine state law in out-of-state court proceedings.

“No matter how badly Democrats want it to be true, North Carolina’s Attorney General is not above state law. The outgoing Attorney General held the belief that law and order could be sacrificed for political clout. We’re going to put an end to that dereliction of duty and stop the incoming Attorney General from using the office primarily as a means to advance his political career,” Sen. Buck Newton (R-Wilson) said.

Other provisions and funding include:

• The State Highway Patrol will become an independent agency.
• Two superior court judgeships will be eliminated at the end of the term and two new special superior court judgeships will be created.
• The governor will be prevented from using executive orders to supersede state law on unemployment benefits.
• One of the governor’s appointments to the Utilities Commission will be transferred to the State Treasurer.
• Require that appointments for vacated seats on the state Supreme Court or Court of Appeals to be the same political party as the vacating judge.
• Provides $33 million to extend childcare stabilization grants.
• Provides $5 million for the rehabilitation or replacement of Poe Hall at N.C. State.
• Pauses the adoption of the 2024 Building Code for six months to avoid significant regulatory changes in the middle of the recovery effort.
• Repeals the Energy Policy Council and transfers its necessary functions to the Utilities Commission.
• Provides $7.8 million for UNC System enrollment mitigation needs.
• Establishes the Office of Learning Research (OLR) at the North Carolina Collaboratory and provides $1.5 million recurring for it.