NC General Assembly Covid Response

Key Points

When the COVID-19 outbreak began, the North Carolina House immediately got to work by organizing
bipartisan remote working groups to identify short and long term legislative solutions to the developing
crisis.

Thanks to responsible budgeting over the past decade, the Republican-led NC General Assembly was
also uniquely prepared financially to meet the challenge – having built up $1.1 billion in savings, $3.9
billion in its unemployment reserves, a $74 million disaster relief fund, $184 million in Medicaid
contingency reserves and a $2.2 billion balance of unappropriated cash-on-hand.

This put North Carolina ahead of the game and on a path to bipartisan success – resulting in over $2
billion in state and federal COVID-19 relief funding being distributed quickly to health care providers and
workers, small businesses, local governments, rural and underserved communities and K-12 schools and
universities.

This included addressing immediate needs like purchasing personal protective equipment, expanding
testing and tracing, providing small business relief and supporting remote learning in K-12 schools.
The General Assembly also invested millions in North Carolina universities and hospitals for long-term
needs like research and vaccine development to fight the virus.

Overall, these efforts marked an historic investment and response that saved lives and livelihoods while
also laying the groundwork for moving North Carolina forward and addressing the economic and human
impacts of this pandemic for years to come.

Legislative Response

Bipartisan COVID-19 Working Groups – As soon as the coronavirus outbreak began, NC House
lawmakers immediately got to work through a bipartisan Select Committee on COVID-19 that met
remotely to identify immediate and long-term legislative responses to the developing crisis. This put
North Carolina ahead of the game and on a path to success.

COVID-19 Recovery Act (SB 704) – Provides tax relief, streamlines unemployment access, increases
health care flexibility and makes policy reforms in education and government operations to assist North
Carolinians through the pandemic and economic shutdown.

Pandemic Response Act (HB 1043) – Provides nearly $1.6 billion in COVID-19 relief for small businesses,
medical providers, education communities, and broadband connectivity. The bill also addresses both
immediate needs, like purchasing personal protective equipment and expanding digital infrastructure
needs, and long-term research and development to fight the virus.

Additional Coronavirus Relief Funds (HB 1023) – Provides $500 million more in coronavirus relief to
local governments, community healthcare services, job retention grants, and programs for vulnerable
populations. It also provides funding for school nutrition programs, hospitals, health clinics, group
homes, and child advocacy centers.

By the Numbers

Education
K-12 Education
• $75 million for school nutrition
• $70 million for summer learning programs
• $11 million to improve internet connectivity
• $30 million for school computers
• $10 million for mental health services
• $5 million for computers and devices for staff
• $4.5 million for cybersecurity at schools
• $3 million for non-digital remote instruction
• $1 million for equipping buses with Wi-Fi
• Waived end-of-year testing requirements
Higher Education
• $25 million for community colleges
• $44 million for UNC System schools
• $20 million for private colleges
• Waived interest on student debt

Health Care
Supplies
• $50 million for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• $25 million to expand testing and contact tracing
• $25 million for assisted living facilities
• $20 million for enhanced public health capacity
• $20 million for behavioral health
Research
• $29 million to UNC School of Public Health/NC Collaboratory
• $20 million to Wake Forest University for antibody study
• $15 million to Duke University Human Vaccine Institute
• $15 million to ECU Brody School of Medicine
• $6 million to Campbell Univ. School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hospitals
• $65 million to rural hospitals
• $15 million for North Carolina teaching hospitals
• $15 million for a general hospital relief fund

Recovery
Small Business
• $125 million for small business loans
• Voted to safely reopen bars, gyms, parks and other businesses
• Waived interest payments on income and business taxes
• $15 million for job retention grants
State and Local Government
• $300 million for local governments
• $50 million for rural communities
• $100 million for counties
• $300 million for transportation
• $15 million for tourism industry support
Rural Broadband
• $9 million to help expand rural broadband