Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 (H.B. 149) Summary

• Extends statewide emergency declaration from Hurricane Helene through March 1, 2025, and establishes two separate disaster recovery funds: the Hurricane Helene Disaster Recovery Fund ($273 million in state appropriations) and the Potential Tropical Cyclone #8 Fund for Brunswick and New Hanover Counties.

• Appropriates $273 million for Helene relief including $250 million to Department of Public Safety for federal disaster assistance match and revolving loans, $16 million to schools for employee compensation during closures, $2 million for local government technical assistance, and $5 million to State Board of Elections.

• Provides flexibility for schools in disaster counties to waive up to 20 instructional days, allows up to 30 additional remote instruction days, and compensates school nutrition employees for closures through September and October 2024.

• Suspends standard election regulations for November 2024 in affected counties, allowing out-of-precinct voting, relaxed residency requirements for election workers, modified polling locations, and expanded absentee voting procedures.

• Authorizes temporary waivers and regulatory relief including waived DMV fees through December 2024, suspended child care licensing standards, construction fee moratorium through December 2024, and allows retired state employees to return to work with reduced separation periods for disaster recovery efforts.