H47 - Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part I. (SL 2025-2)

Overview: Subpart II-A of S.L. 2025-2 (House Bill 47) requires the State Controller to transfer the sum of $299 million dollars from the State Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund to the Helene Fund, and appropriates $524 million from that fund as follows:

• $120 million to the Department of Commerce, Division of Community Revitalization for the Home Reconstruction and Repair Program.
• $200 million to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program.
• $100 million to the Division of Emergency Management of the Department of Public Safety for the Private Road and Bridges Repair and Replacement Program.
• $55 million dollars for the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program.
• $20 million to the Office of State Budget and Management to distribute to State agencies and units of local government for debris and sedimentation removal unmet needs.
• $10 million to the Office of the State Fire Marshal to disburse grants to small and volunteer fire departments in counties in the affected area that qualify for Individual and Public Assistance Categories C-G to cover expenses incurred due to Hurricane Helene, to purchase equipment, or to make capital improvements to assist with readiness for future emergency response.
• $10 million to the Division of Emergency Management of the Department of Public Safety to disburse grants to any member organization of Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs) actively involved in actual and ongoing repair and reconstruction projects.
• $4 million to the Department of Commerce for the nonprofit corporation with which the Department contracts for targeted media campaigns to encourage both in-State and out-of-state tourists to return to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.
• $9 million to the Department of Public Instruction for the School Extension Learning Recovery Program.

This subpart also makes various amendments to rental assistance provisions in S.L. 2024-53, The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 – Part II, to authorize that eligible recipients can receive up to two assistance payments as determined by county departments of social services (previously one payment capped at a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's measure).

This subpart also makes 2024 appropriation adjustments to transfer unused Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program appropriations to effectuate the Department of Commerce $4 million appropriation for targeted media campaigns described above.

The additional rental assistance provision became effective retroactively to October 25, 2024. The appropriations and appropriation adjustment provisions became effective March 19, 2025.