North Carolina lawmakers are nearing agreement on additional disaster relief funding to aid recovery from Hurricane Helene, which caused historic flooding and destruction last fall. The Senate advanced a $533 million disaster recovery measure, broader than the House's $500 million package focused on Helene's impact in western North Carolina. The Senate plan includes $217 million for lingering home construction projects from Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018), as well as support for farmers affected by Helene, drought, and tornadoes. Both chambers aim to finalize a bill quickly, possibly by the end of the week, to send to Governor Roy Cooper. The legislation also provides funding for summer school instruction in flood-affected school districts. While legislative leaders aim to allocate more funds for Helene recovery in the state budget later this year, challenges remain, including delays in housing reconstruction and the need to maximize federal matching funds.