New N.C. Lottery Fund Commits $2 Billion to Needs-Based School Construction Over 10 Years

Raleigh, N.C. – A needs-based capital grant program created in the 2017-18 state budget passed by Republican lawmakers will provide an additional $2.1 billion in lottery funds for school construction in high-need North Carolina counties over the next 10 years. Continue reading “New N.C. Lottery Fund Commits $2 Billion to Needs-Based School Construction Over 10 Years”

N.C. House Leaders Hail High Elections Turnout After Nearly Doubling Early Voting Hours Since 2010

State has tripled Sunday voting hours, nearly doubled total early voting hours, and increased weekend voting hours by 66% since 2010 

Raleigh, N.C. – Leaders of the North Carolina House of Representatives hailed impressive early election turnout in the 2018 midterms after the state more than tripled Sunday voting hours and nearly doubled total early voting hours offered to citizens statewide since 2010.  Continue reading “N.C. House Leaders Hail High Elections Turnout After Nearly Doubling Early Voting Hours Since 2010”

Millions of North Carolina Drivers to be Exempt from Emissions Inspection Fees

Raleigh, N.C. – In December millions of North Carolina drivers across 26 counties will get relief from paying vehicle inspection fees for annual emissions testing after air quality improvements led state legislators to seek federal exemptions from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Continue reading “Millions of North Carolina Drivers to be Exempt from Emissions Inspection Fees”

N.C. Lawmakers Committing $794 Million More for Hurricane Florence Recovery

Legislators to appropriate majority of funding Monday, set aside more for maximum flexibility as state completes assessments

Legislature will have appropriated over $1.2 billion for disaster relief in less than two years

Lawmakers agree to the Governor’s request for a new Office of Recovery and Resiliency.

Office of State Budget and Management briefed appropriations chairs on Thursday, discussed preliminary nature of estimate

Raleigh, N.C. – State lawmakers announced they will allocate $794 million in additional Hurricane Florence relief funding in response to the preliminary needs assessment released earlier this week, bringing the legislature’s total commitment to disaster recovery since the storm to $850 million.

For comparison, after Hurricane Matthew, the legislature appropriated $200 million two months after the storm. With this latest action, the North Carolina General Assembly will have allocated over $1.2 billion for hurricane recovery since 2016. Continue reading “N.C. Lawmakers Committing $794 Million More for Hurricane Florence Recovery”

Relief for N.C. Schools and Voters, Florence Recovery Fund Approved in Bipartisan Vote

Raleigh, N.C. – Legislation establishing emergency flexibility for schools and elections boards, as well as a new recovery fund from the state’s record $2 billion savings reserve, passed the North Carolina House of Representatives on Tuesday in an extra session responding to Hurricane Florence. Continue reading “Relief for N.C. Schools and Voters, Florence Recovery Fund Approved in Bipartisan Vote”

Hurricane Florence Recovery Fund Formed in Bipartisan N.C. Legislation

Raleigh, N.C. – Legislation filed Tuesday by members of both parties in the North Carolina General Assembly would create a Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Fund and transfer $56.5 million from the state’s record savings reserve to the account as a down payment on emergency spending needs.  Continue reading “Hurricane Florence Recovery Fund Formed in Bipartisan N.C. Legislation”