AN ACT to improve the function and assistance available from and the operations of regional councils of government.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of three million nine hundred fifty thousand dollars ($3,950,000) in recurring funds for the 2025‑2026 fiscal year to be allocated to the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments (NCARCOG), which shall use the funds to create a financial administration program. This program shall provide the resources to employ 32 additional finance professionals in the 16 regional councils of governments created pursuant to G.S. 160A‑470 to assist small local governments and public authorities with returning to compliant status. NCARCOG shall prioritize assistance funded under this section to small units of local government and public authorities (i) with limited means and (ii) on the Unit Assistance List issued by the Department of State Treasurer.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, the sum of three million nine hundred thousand dollars ($3,900,000) in recurring funds for the 2025‑2026 fiscal year to be allocated to the NCARCOG, which shall use the funds to develop, implement, and provide relief pursuant to a disaster response plan. The plan shall include specific standards and goals for building capacity; assisting relief efforts, including local financial administration training, assistance for applying for federal disaster recovery funds, and technical assistance for post‑disaster recovery periods to identify and facilitate repair of infrastructure, health, safety, and rebuilding needs; and increasing readiness and resiliency in the event of future natural disasters. NCARCOG shall consult with the Division of Emergency Management in developing the plan required by this section, and the Division of Emergency Management shall identify and incorporate the plan in areas where the Division's disaster relief plans might be made more efficient or effective by collaborating and aligning disaster response with regional councils of government.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2025.