On Monday May 4, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper signed HB 1043- 2020 COVID-19 Recovery Act and SB 704 – COVID-19 Recovery Act into law.
Elected leadership from the North Carolina General Assembly was present for the signing including House Speaker Tim Moore, Democratic House Leader Darren Jackson, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, and Democratic Senate Leader Dan Blue.
Each elected official expressed that the bipartisan package helps put North Carolina on the path to recovery.
This relief package includes over $1.5 billion in relief for public health, education, small business assistance, and state government operations.
Some key provisions include:
- $5 million for NCMS to purchase personal protection equipment
- $25 million for enhanced COVID-19 testing and tracing
- $125 million for small business loans administered through the Golden Leaf Foundation
- $75 million for school nutrition programs
- $6 million for food banks
- $20 million to support local health departments and the State Health Lab
- $9 million for rural broadband
- $85 million for vaccine development, antibody testing, community testing, rural health care, and other COVID-19 related research at Duke University, UNC, East Carolina University, Wake Forest University, and Campbell University
- $1.7 million to study COVID-19 health disparities
- Waived interest on tax payments normally due in April
- Medical liability protections
- 5% Medicaid fee for service bump for all providers
For a complete breakdown of the health related portions of both bills view the NCMS Legislative Blog for the NCGA COVID-19 Relief package summary.