Relating to fire insurance that covers properties at particular risk of wildfires; prescribing an effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Smith

A one-time $10,000,000 state grant to Pittsboro for a new fire station and equipment (ladder truck, engine) to boost local firefighting capacity.

In committee upon adjournment.

Overview / Purpose

Senate Bill 340 would appropriate $10,000,000 in nonrecurring State General Fund dollars (FY 2025–2026) as a directed grant to the Town of Pittsboro (Chatham County) to enhance local emergency fire services. The appropriation is intended to fund capital construction and equipment purchases to improve the town’s firefighting capacity.

Key provisions

Appropriation: $10,000,000 (nonrecurring) from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) for FY 2025–2026.

Distribution: OSBM to provide a directed grant to the Town of Pittsboro.

Specified uses of the $10,000,000:

$7,000,000 — construction of a new fire station.
$1,800,000 — purchase of a new ladder truck.
$1,200,000 — purchase of a new fire engine.

Effective date (if enacted): July 1, 2025.

Who would be affected

Direct recipient: Town of Pittsboro (local government in Chatham County) — would receive the directed grant and be the entity responsible for using the funds as specified.

State finances: The appropriation reduces the State General Fund by $10 million in FY 2025–2026 (nonrecurring).

Local public safety: Pittsboro residents and businesses would be the primary beneficiaries through improved fire/emergency response capacity and infrastructure.

Fiscal and policy implications

One-time capital and equipment investment totaling $10 million; no ongoing operating funds are specified.

No local match requirement or ongoing maintenance funding is specified in the bill text provided — local budget impacts for operating a new station or maintaining new equipment may arise.

The appropriation is nonrecurring — the State would not budget continuing funds unless a future bill provides them.

Legislative / procedural status and timeline

Introduced: November 13, 2024 (per bill information).

Bill text designates the appropriation for FY 2025–2026 and sets July 1, 2025 as the effective date.

Current status (as reported in the provided metadata): Withdrawn from Committee. That indicates the bill was not advanced to final enactment in its reported form. (Committee and floor action records in the materials are mixed; the controlling status listed at the top is “Withdrawn From Com.”)

Notes and considerations

The bill is narrowly targeted (directed grant to a single municipality) and specifies permitted uses. If enacted, local officials would need to administer construction procurement and equipment purchases according to state/local procurement rules.

Potential additional local costs (staffing, operating/maintenance) for the new station and apparatus are not addressed and would be the town’s responsibility unless covered by later appropriations.

Bill