Lawmakers reach deal on Helene bill, $528 million to help western NC recover

House and Senate Republicans reached a deal to address Hurricane Helene and wrap up rebuilding from past hurricanes.

Western North Carolina will soon receive $528 million to help recover from Hurricane Helene, as House and Senate Republicans reached a deal on Tuesday.

Under the modified House Bill 47, there will be $299 million in new spending, $4 million in shifted funds and the remainder largely coming from a $227 million spending bill passed in December.

The Senate sought $533 million in spending this month, while the House approved a bill last month for $500 million. Over the past week, 20 Republicans were tasked with working out differences between the two chambers’ proposals.

On Tuesday, the House nearly unanimously supported a compromise $528 million package. It’s far less than Gov. Josh Stein’s proposed $1.07 billion, but the Democrat has pledged to sign whatever reaches his desk.

The Senate is scheduled to approve the measure during a 4 p.m. voting session on Wednesday. Stein would then sign it.

Here’s what’s in the $528 million spending plan: