Sponsors (4)
The bill helps restore sole-access private roads and bridges after Tropical Storm Helene—improving safety and access for affected households and communities—while creating federal costs and leaving some damaged private infrastructure or pre-repaired work ineligible or subject to administrative burdens.
Homeowners, rural communities, and Tribal communities that rely on private roads or bridges that are the sole access to homes or essential services will gain federal reimbursement (to state, Tribal, and local governments) to repair those private access routes following Tropical Storm Helene.
Homeowners and households who previously received Section 408 assistance can keep that aid or return it to qualify for larger public-assistance reimbursement, preserving their financial options.
State, Tribal, and local governments will face fewer disputes and faster eligibility decisions because engineer-certified, mutually agreed cost estimates are used to set grant amounts.
Homeowners and rural residents with damaged private roads/bridges that are not the sole access or whose damage is unrelated to Tropical Storm Helene may remain ineligible for reimbursement, leaving some households without help.
Taxpayers nationwide may face higher federal spending because the program reimburses repairs to privately owned infrastructure in North Carolina.
Owners of private roads/bridges (including homeowners) may incur delays or additional costs to obtain permissions and meet federal/state requirements before reimbursement is approved.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows NC governments under FEMA disaster FEMA–4827–DR–NC to be reimbursed under the Stafford Act for repairs to private roads/bridges that are sole access to homes or essential services, subject to conditions.
Allows State, Tribal, and local governments in North Carolina covered by FEMA major disaster declaration FEMA–4827–DR–NC (Tropical Storm Helene) to receive reimbursement under the Stafford Act for repair, replacement, or restoration of private roads and bridges that serve as the sole access to primary residences or essential community services when they were significantly damaged by the storm. Reimbursement is conditioned on inspections, keeping routes open during work, documentation of costs per FEMA policy, obtaining permission to do permanent repairs, and compliance with applicable State and Federal requirements. Permits previously provided assistance under a different Stafford Act provision to be returned so a project can qualify under this provision; sets eligible costs based on certified estimates from mutually agreed licensed engineers that the FEMA Administrator is to accept and that are presumed reasonable unless fraud is shown.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Chuck Edwards · Last progress January 28, 2025