No mixed drinks to go, questions remain on elections policy, transportation projects, but the state’s first relief bills are done.
RALEIGH — North Carolina General Assembly leaders reached a deal last night on a COVID-19 relief package.
The multi-billion-dollar plan will be voted through the body later today, wrapping up the legislature’s first COVID-19 session.
Another session is expected in the coming weeks as the body decides how to allocate more of the $3.5 billion in federal funding kicked down to the state as part of Congress‘ stimulus bills.
Today’s deal totals about $1.5 billion in spending the General Assembly directs, though there’s more than another $1 billion in the bills to account for federal money that passes through state coffers, but which the legislature has limited ability to direct. This pot of money includes significant funding for public schools, higher education and child care grants.
Some funding, including $300 million for the NC Department of Transportation to keep highway projects going, remains in question, dependent on whether federal spending rules change to allow this sort of funding replacement.
