Bill > H685

This bill proposes a comprehensive $595 million investment in rural North Carolina for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, allocating funds across multiple key areas of infrastructure and development. The bill provides $200 million to the Department of Environmental Quality for water and sewer infrastructure grants to local governments, prioritizing projects based on need and efficiency. An additional $10 million is allocated to the Department of Public Safety for equipment grants to municipal, county, and volunteer fire and police departments. The Department of Commerce receives $20 million for land acquisition grants to support economic development, with priority given to sites likely to attract companies. The Office of State Budget and Management will provide $5 million to the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation to improve healthcare access in underserved areas. The Department of Agriculture gets $10 million for the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, while the Department of Public Instruction receives $200 million for rural school construction and improvement grants. The Department of Information Technology will get $50 million for broadband expansion, and the Department of Health and Human Services will receive $100 million for early learning programs. The bill is set to become effective on July 1, 2025, and requires each department to develop specific guidelines for grant applications and fund allocation.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H685