On May 4, 2020 Governor Roy Cooper signed the following COVID-19 relief bills into law: Senate Bill 704 and House Bill 1043.
The two bills will provide critical relief and assistance to families, schools, hospitals and small businesses.
“The General Assembly crafted a bipartisan COVID-19 relief package that puts North Carolina on the right path to recovery. Governor Cooper’s signature on these bills sends a signal to our citizens that our state is moving past this crisis and that action is being taken to address their concerns,” said Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger.
The relief package, which was passed unanimously, includes almost $1.6 billion in relief measures for critical expenditures related to public health and safety, educational needs, small business assistance, and continuity of state government operations. Of this amount, $1.4 billion has been appropriated and $150 million is set aside in a reserve fund for future local government needs.
The package also contains key policy changes to support North Carolinians as the state battles COVID-19.
HB 1043, the spending package, allocates federal funding sent to the state from the CARES Act. It includes:
$50 million to provide personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies
$25 million to support enhanced COVID-19 testing and tracing
$125 million in small business loans administered through the Golden LEAF Foundation
$50 million in health support for underserved communities including rural areas and minority communities
$95 million to support North Carolina hospitals
$20 million to support local health departments and the State Health Lab
$75 million for school nutrition programs
$70 million for summer learning programs
$30 million for local schools to purchase computers and other devices for students
$6 million for food banks
$9 million for rural broadband
$85 million for vaccine development, antibody testing, community testing, and other COVID-19-related research at Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, Campbell University, and Wake Forest University.
Senate Bill 704 contained provisions to help North Carolinians. It includes:
• An extension of driver’s license and registration expiration deadlines
• Waived interest on tax payments normally due in April
• Modifies end-of-grade testing requirements for public schools
• Adjusts the 2020-21 K-12 public school calendar
• Allows pharmacists to administer a COVID-19 vaccine once it is developed
