Transportation

HB 1040 updates the financial and operational rules for the Pitt County-City of Greenville Airport Authority by clarifying how the county and city fund airport operations and expansions. The bill allows the two governments to share costs for running the airport and building new facilities, using money from airport fees, land sales, or voter-approved taxes and bonds. It also confirms the authority's power to manage the property, enforce safety zoning rules, and issue debt for improvements if voters agree. This legislation primarily affects the local county and city officials who oversee the airport's budget and development plans.

HB 948, the P.A.V.E. Act, amends North Carolina law to allow Mecklenburg County to levy an additional 0.5% local sales tax specifically for public transportation systems. The bill defines "public transportation system" broadly to include buses, transit facilities, bike/pedestrian infrastructure, and automated transport tunnels, while excluding general roads. Funds collected must supplement, not replace, existing public transit funding and can only be used for financing, building, operating, or maintaining these systems. The tax proceeds would be distributed monthly to Mecklenburg County and its public transportation authorities per a financial plan, with the bill taking effect only if Mecklenburg levies this tax.

HB 47, the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part I, allocates $524 million from the Helene Fund to support recovery efforts in North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. The bill directs funds to specific programs including home reconstruction ($120 million), agricultural crop loss assistance ($200 million), road and bridge repairs ($100 million), small business infrastructure grants ($55 million), debris removal ($20 million), fire department equipment ($10 million), and tourism promotion ($4 million). These resources directly assist residents, farmers, local governments, and businesses in designated hurricane-affected counties by addressing immediate rebuilding needs and supporting economic recovery. The bill requires programs to align with federal disaster recovery guidelines to maximize potential federal reimbursement, with reporting requirements for certain initiatives.