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Gov. Cooper signs $1.5B COVID-19 relief bill: Here's a breakdown of the funding

Gov. Cooper also signed into law key policy changes for end-of-grade testing, car registration deadlines, and interest on state taxes.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper signed two coronavirus relief bills into law on Monday. One will provide nearly $1.6 billion for health, education, small businesses, and more. The other contains key policy changes to help North Carolinians as the state continues to battle COVID-19. 

“I am signing into law two critical relief bills that will provide assistance to families, schools, hospitals, and small businesses as our state battles COVID-19,” Cooper said. “There is more work ahead of us, and I hope the spirit of consensus behind these bills will continue.”

The relief package, HB 1043, allocates federal funding from the CARES Act. It was passed unanimously and includes almost $1.6 billion for public health and safety, schools, small businesses, and continuity of state government operations. $150 million has also been set aside in a reserve fund for future local government needs. 

Senate Bill 704 will provide policy changes to various things like end-of-grade testing, car registration deadlines, and interest on state taxes. 

HB 1043: RELIEF PACKAGE

  • $50 million to provide personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies
  • $25 million to support enhanced COVID-19 testing and tracing
  • $125 million in small business loans administered through the Golden LEAF Foundation
  • $50 million in health support for underserved communities including rural areas and minority communities
  • $95 million to support North Carolina hospitals
  • $20 million to support local health departments and the State Health Lab
  • $75 million for school nutrition programs
  • $70 million for summer learning programs
  • $30 million for local schools to purchase computers and other devices for students
  • $6 million for food banks
  • $9 million for rural broadband
  • $85 million for vaccine development, antibody testing, community testing, and other COVID-19-related research at Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, Campbell University, and Wake Forest University.

Senate Bill 704: POLICY CHANGES

  • An extension of driver’s license and registration expiration deadlines
  • Waived interest on tax payments normally due in April
  • Modifies end-of-grade testing requirements for public schools
  • Adjusts the 2020-21 K-12 public school calendar
  • Allows pharmacists to administer a COVID-19 vaccine once it is developed

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