North Carolina lawmakers pass $273M Helene relief bill

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday finalized a $273 million initial relief package to boost the recovery Hurricane Helenedescribing it as a down payment on aid and a way to help hard-hit provinces gain more flexibility in holding elections already underway.

The legislationwhich was unanimously approved in the House and Senate, comes less than two weeks after catastrophic flooding caused by the storm’s historic rainfall in the North Carolina mountains.

More than half of the 238 confirmed deaths from Helene in the southeastern states in Helene’s path occurred in North Carolina, a presidential state where absentee voting has already begun.

Tens of thousands of electric customers in the region are still without power and some people, including Asheville residents, still don’t have running water. Legislators from the devastated region rang with emotion as they spoke of the heavy blows dealt by Helene.

“I want to thank you for putting your first seeds in the ground,” said Sen. Ralph Hise, a Republican from Mitchell County, where he said the local water system is “irreparable” and would otherwise take years to replace. . I have never seen such devastation.”

Republican legislative leaders who helped establish the benchmark With input from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration and election officials repeatedly emphasized that more legislation and funding would come soon. Lawmakers also agreed to return for more action on Oct. 24, rather than waiting until mid-November for an already scheduled session. They recognized that the effort would take months and years.

“The recovery that needs to happen will be a monumental task, but it is something we will get done,” said House Speaker Tim Moore.

Nearly all of the money in the bill – $250 million – is earmarked for government agencies to meet the federal government’s requirements for state and local disaster assistance programs. The state government currently has $4.75 billion set aside in a rainy-day fund and $733 million in a disaster reserve. If necessary, other pots of money can be tapped.

The governor was expected to sign the legislation. “I appreciate the Legislature’s efforts today to pass a bill to help these communities,” Cooper said during Helene’s recovery briefing at the State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.

The bill also includes details to ensure teachers and cafeteria workers at public schools closed in the wake of Helene are paid. Fees to replace lost driver’s licenses and identification cards will be waived, as will requirements for some highway repairs and burning of open storm debris.

The bill also largely follows rule changes for conducting elections and returning ballots approved unanimously earlier this week by the State Board of Elections. But lawmakers decided to expand the changes from 13 of the 100 counties approved by the administration to 25 counties — in line with the scope of the federal disaster declaration, Senate Majority Leader Phil Berger said.

The storm’s flooding severely damaged some voting locations, requiring replacement. Early in-person voting will take place from October 17 through November 2.

For example, the legislation allows voters registered in the 25 counties to request an absentee ballot in person up to the day before Election Day. These voters would also have more ways to drop off absentee ballots, including any open early voting location or elections office in any of the 100 counties, as well as at the State Board of Elections office in Raleigh. This goes beyond the additional options approved by the state board. Such ballots must still be returned by 7:30 PM on Election Day to be counted.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign sent a press release late Tuesday proposing 10 changes so that displaced voters “do not lose their right to participate in this important election.” Most of the ideas are contained in the legislation, although one is missing.

Overall, the region affected by the election changes has historically favored Republican candidates, although Asheville and surrounding Buncombe County are considered a Democratic stronghold.

Sen. Paul Newton, co-chair of the Cabarrus County Republican and Senate Elections Committee, emphasized that the changes in the bill were almost all based on the bipartisan decision by the board earlier this week, and that many entities provided input to staff.

“We just saw the extent of the devastation and knew we had to make changes so that everyone would have a chance to vote in this election,” Newton said. “That would be true regardless of whether it is red or blue.”

During a floor debate, Democratic and Republican mountain lawmakers described the devastation they witnessed in their districts. They spoke gratefully of acts of heroism and help from outside the region, including convoys with supplies.

GOP Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, who along with others helped open a relief distribution center in Henderson County, said mountain residents are strong and resilient.

“But people still need help, even if they don’t ask for it,” Balkcom said, adding that the legislation is “a start to helping people get what they need.”