AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A MUNICIPAL WINTER ROAD OPERATIONS GRANT PROGRAM.

Whereas, winter weather events involving snow and ice, while intermittent in North Carolina, can cause substantial disruption to commerce, emergency response, and public safety when municipal road networks are inadequately cleared; and

Whereas, widespread business closures, delayed freight movement, and workforce disruptions resulting from winter‑weather‑related transportation failures can cost the State economy an estimated five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) or more per day in lost economic activity and productivity, substantially exceeding the cost of proactive investments in municipal snow and ice response capacity; and

Whereas, timely snow and ice removal from municipal streets and commercial corridors reduces economic losses, improves emergency access, and shortens recovery time following winter storms; and

Whereas, municipalities vary significantly in their winter road response capacity, and a coordinated State–local partnership can improve readiness and efficiency; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Municipal Winter Road Reimbursement Program.

SECTION 1. Chapter 136 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:

Article 14D.

Municipal Winter Road Operations Cost Share Program.

§ 136‑189.30. Municipal Winter Road Operations Cost Share Program.

(a)        Creation. – The Municipal Winter Road Operations Cost Share Program (the Program) is established within the Department of Transportation. The Department shall administer the Program and reimburse municipalities in accordance with this Article.

(b)        Purpose. — The purpose of this Article is to improve municipal preparedness and response for snow and ice events by supporting the acquisition of equipment, staffing readiness, and coordinated contracting for snow and ice removal on municipal streets and public rights‑of‑way.

(c)        Allowable Reimbursements. — The Department may reimburse up to seventy‑five percent (75%) of the following costs incurred by a municipality:

(1)        Outfitting municipal sanitation trucks, dump trucks, or other heavy‑duty municipal vehicles with snow plows, salt spreaders, or liquid de‑icing systems;

(2)        Installation of required cameras, GPS tracking devices, and associated data systems;

(3)        Operational costs directly related to snow and ice response, including staffing, training, fuel, materials, and contracted services; and

(4)        Payments to contracted private snow‑removal providers as required under this Article.

(e)        Contracting requirement. — As a condition of receiving reimbursement under this Article, a municipality shall contract with one or more private service providers located within the State that are capable of performing snow and ice removal using appropriately equipped vehicles, to provide supplemental snow and ice removal services. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit reimbursement for snow and ice removal performed by municipal departments or other public municipal services, provided such services meet the requirements of this Article.

(1)        Accumulation of winter precipitation of at least 1 inch of snow or .1 inch of ice and

(2)        Forecasted temperatures are expected to remain below freezing after sunrise on the following day.

The Department may adopt rules establishing minimum contractual standards, including response time, equipment requirements, and documentation.

(f)        Equipment and data requirements. — Any municipal or contracted vehicle funded in whole or in part under this Article shall be equipped with:

(1)        Forward‑and‑plow‑facing cameras capable of recording operations; and

(2)        GPS tracking devices capable of recording route coverage, duration, and time stamps.

Data collected under this section shall be used for:

(1)        Verification of services performed;

(2)        Billing and reimbursement documentation; and

(3)        Operational transparency for municipal officials.

(g)        Public plowing status map. — As a condition of receiving reimbursement under this Article, a municipality shall provide a publicly accessible, real‑time or near‑real‑time map showing snow and ice removal activity on municipal streets, including plowed and in‑progress routes, using GPS data.

(h)        Application and prioritization. — The Department shall develop an application process requiring municipalities to submit:

(1)        Winter road operations plan;

(2)        Proposed equipment acquisitions;

(3)        Contracted service arrangements; and

(4)        Documentation of the required local match.

(i)         In reimbursing allowable costs under this article, the Department shall consider:

(1)        Amount of local match provided;

(2)        Population served and commercial activity affected;

(3)        Demonstrated need and existing capacity; and

(4)        Geographic distribution of awards.

(5)        High ratio of municipal to NCDOT‑maintained roads.

(j)         Reporting. — The Department shall submit an annual report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee detailing:

(1)        Reimbursements;

(2)        Funds expended;

(3)        Municipal participation; and

(4)        Observed impacts on winter road response.

SECTION 2. The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in recurring funds is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Transportation for each fiscal year beginning with the 2026–2027 fiscal year to support operational costs under this Article.

The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Transportation for the 2026–2027 fiscal year to support the acquisition and installation of snow and ice‑removal equipment under this Article. Funds appropriated under this section shall not revert and shall remain available for expenditure until expended.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year the sum of five million dollars($5,000,000) in nonrecurring funds to be used by the Department to build up a salt and brine reserve to distribute to local governments in need, with priority given based on need, geography, and population.

SECTION 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 2026.