NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Three bills related to disaster relief funding for East Tennessee counties torn apart by Hurricane Helene in November are set to receive their final vote on the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives Wednesday night.
House Bills 6002, 6003, and 6007 will see their final votes in one chamber of the Tennessee General Assembly starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29.
According to the Tennessee Capitol website, these bills all provide some type of monetary relief for Tennesseans affected by the hurricane that destroyed whole cities in Western North Carolina and Northeast Tennessee.
HB 6002 suspends certain requirements for disaster relief funding eligibility in order to move funds to people who need it quicker than current state and federal emergency management agencies allow. The bill also allows for certain eligibility requirements for unemployment assistance to be suspended in a specified disaster-declared zone.
The second bill, HB 6003, creates two separate disaster relief funds within the state treasury department. The first, titled the Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund, would allow for grants, state appropriations, or federal funds, to be given by TEMA to local governments to pay for disaster recovery costs. Loans would be provided up to a 5% interest or the prime interest rate if they are included in the disaster declaration zone. Currently there are nine counties that meet that criteria.
The second fund is titled the Governor's Response and Recovery Fund, per the terms of the bill. According to the language, the fund would be made up of grants, state appropriations, loan repayments, and federal funds. TEMA would be able to use these funds to give to "third parties" in the form of either loans or grants for disaster response and recovery, including damage or loss of property, agricultural cleanup efforts, or business recovery, according to the bill. The bill also stipulates the funds must only be used in response to Hurricane Helene or another officially declared disaster and emergency.
The final bill, HB 6007, allows for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury to provide money to those needing property tax relief if their homes or businesses were destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Helene. Brought by Cosby Rep. Jeremy Faison, the bill is limited to real or personal property damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene in the FEMA-declared disaster counties, and is only a one-time payment of their upcoming property tax bill.
According to Faison, Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower worked with him on drafting the legislation after hearing from local property assessors who worried about constituents who will still owe property taxes on structures that may or may not be standing after the flooding in the area.
All three bills easily sailed through all required committees, receiving unanimous support across party lines.
As of Wednesday afternoon, all three disaster relief bills were set for their final debate on the House floor Wednesday night. The bills are expected to pass easily.