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Bill

SB 590

Relating to long term care.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Meek

Authorizes a $2B nonrecurring Water Infrastructure Fund and broad DEQ programs to boost coastal resilience, PFAS cleanup, and drinking/wastewater infrastructure grants.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 590

SB 590 — Coastal Plain Resilience and Eco. Pros. Act. (Introduced Feb 20, 2025; Passed 1st Reading)

Purpose / Intent

SB 590 provides targeted state funding to strengthen coastal resilience, environmental protection, water infrastructure, and related program capacity within the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The bill authorizes a mix of recurring and one‑time (nonrecurring) appropriations to support staff, technical assistance, studies, enforcement, and large capital grant programs aimed at reducing flood risk, addressing emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS), and improving drinking and wastewater systems.

Key provisions (amounts, uses, and timing)

All appropriations take effect July 1, 2025. Funding is allocated for the 2025‑2027 biennium; some items are recurring, others nonrecurring for FY2025‑26.

  • Division of Coastal Management — Resilient Coastal Communities Program

    • $1,710,000 recurring per year
    • Uses: 2 FTEs to staff the program, grants (including federal match), and technical assistance for flood‑risk reduction and long‑term resilience projects.

  • Division of Coastal Management — Coastal Habitat Assessment Program

    • $470,000 recurring per year
    • Uses: 5 FTEs to staff coastal habitat assessment work.

  • Flood Resiliency Blueprint implementation

    • $990,000 recurring per year
    • Uses: 6 FTEs to continue implementation of the Flood Resiliency Blueprint (per S.L. 2021‑180, §5.9(c)).

  • DEQ customer/grant/recycling support

    • $1,210,000 recurring + $500,000 nonrecurring (2025‑26)
    • Uses: 8 FTEs for business technical assistance, recycling industry grant administration, and improved regional customer service.

  • Marine patrol (Division of Marine Fisheries)

    • $600,000 recurring + $10,000 nonrecurring (2025‑26)
    • Uses: 5 FTE marine patrol officers.

  • Mobile air quality monitoring (Division of Air Quality)

    • $400,000 recurring per year + $550,000 nonrecurring (2025‑26)
    • Uses: 3 FTEs to staff a mobile AQ monitoring unit.

  • Dam overtopping studies

    • $3,150,000 nonrecurring (2025‑26)
    • Uses: overtopping studies for remaining high and intermediate hazard dams (per G.S. 143‑215.32A).

  • Superfund cost‑share & O&M

    • $1,500,000 nonrecurring (2025‑26)
    • Uses: 10% state cost‑share for National Priorities List cleanups and related operating/maintenance costs.

  • Emerging compounds (PFAS, etc.)

    • $4,010,000 recurring per year + $590,000 nonrecurring (2025‑26)
    • Uses: 24 FTEs for DEQ work to address emerging contaminants.

  • Water Infrastructure Fund (major capital appropriation)

    • $2,000,000,000 nonrecurring (2025‑26)
    • Uses: allocate to Drinking Water Reserve and Wastewater Reserve to provide construction grants to public water and wastewater systems. The bill waives the limits in G.S.159G‑36(c) for grants awarded from this appropriation.

Who is affected / likely beneficiaries

  • Coastal communities and local governments (flood mitigation, resilience grants, habitat assessment)
  • Public water and wastewater systems (large construction grants)
  • Communities impacted by PFAS and other emerging contaminants (monitoring, remediation support)
  • DEQ (new staff, program capacity)
  • Recycling industry and businesses interacting with DEQ (technical assistance)
  • Marine resources enforcement (marine patrol)
  • Dam owners and downstream communities (overtopping studies)
  • State Superfund sites (state share of cleanup costs)

Fiscal and timeline highlights

  • Large fiscal commitment: $2.0 billion one‑time for water infrastructure (FY2025‑26) plus multiple recurring program appropriations across 2025‑27.
  • Recurring staffing investments indicate ongoing program expansion (multiple new FTEs across DEQ divisions).
  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.
  • Status reported by sponsor: Passed 1st Reading (introduced Feb 20, 2025).

Practical effects / considerations

  • The bill expands DEQ capacity to manage resilience, contamination, and infrastructure programs but requires sizeable state capital outlay (notably the $2B Water Infrastructure Fund).
  • Local governments and utilities would be primary applicants/recipients of the grants; program rules, application processes, and matching requirements (if any) will be set by DEQ and relevant statutes.
  • Waiving statutory grant limits (G.S.159G‑36(c)) for this appropriation allows flexibility to award larger grants than normally permitted under the Water Infrastructure Fund.

If you want, I can extract the appropriation table into a short printable page or draft a one‑page memo for local governments explaining how to prepare for potential grant applications.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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