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Bill Summary · HB 312

Summary — HB 312: Funds/Madison County Courthouse Relocation

Title: Funds/Madison County Courthouse Relocation
Primary sponsor: Rep. Pless
Chamber / Status (NC): Introduced in House (first reading); referred to Appropriations (as of March 2025)
Effective date (as drafted): July 1, 2025
Fiscal year / Amount: $80,000,000 (nonrecurring) for FY 2025–2026
Source: General Fund appropriation to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)

Main purpose

To provide a one-time, state-directed grant to Madison County to relocate the Madison County Courthouse — which was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene — out of the floodplain to avoid future flood damage and restore long‑term courthouse operations and public services.

Key provisions

  • Appropriates $80,000,000 in nonrecurring General Fund dollars to OSBM for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
  • Directs OSBM to provide the funds as a directed grant to Madison County.
  • States the purpose of the grant is relocation of the courthouse out of the floodplain (the courthouse was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene).
  • Bill becomes effective July 1, 2025 (per the bill text).

Who is affected

  • Primary recipient: Madison County government (project sponsor/implementer).
  • Indirect beneficiaries: county residents, courthouse staff, judiciary and court users (restoration and improvement of courthouse services and safety).
  • State budget: one-time $80 million reduction in available General Fund balance for FY 2025–26.
  • Potential involvement by state agencies (OSBM for grant administration), and local planning, land-use, environmental, procurement, and construction stakeholders.

Implementation and timeline considerations

  • Funds are nonrecurring and appropriated specifically for FY 2025–26; the bill does not specify a project schedule, relocation site, procurement method, or reporting/oversight requirements beyond the directed grant.
  • Local actions likely needed by Madison County: site selection, acquisition, design, permitting, bidding/contracting, and coordination with federal (e.g., FEMA) or state floodplain management rules if federal funding or reimbursement is sought.
  • The bill does not identify matching requirements, restricted uses beyond relocation out of the floodplain, or ongoing operating/maintenance funding for a new facility.

Potential impacts and issues

  • Positive: Provides substantial state support to protect critical public infrastructure and reduce future disaster recovery costs; can restore court operations and public access.
  • Fiscal: $80 million is a significant one‑time state cost; it reduces General Fund capacity for other uses in FY 2025–26.
  • Programmatic/administrative: Because the bill is a straight appropriation for a directed grant, details needed for oversight, procurement compliance, project milestones, or conditions on use of funds are not specified in the text—these may be addressed administratively or in subsequent legislation or grant agreements.

If enacted, OSBM and Madison County will need to define project plans, compliance steps, and oversight arrangements before funds are spent.

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

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