North Carolina HB 296: Sampson-Delinquent Taxpayers.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 296

Short Title: Corn Farmer Recovery Act - Phase I. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives B. Jones, Penny, Brisson, and Cairns (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
March 6, 2025
*H296-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A CORN FARMERS RECOVERY ACT AND TO APPROPRIATE 2
FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
5
PART I. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS 6
SECTION 1.1. The North Carolina General Assembly makes the following findings 7
for corn farming in 2024: 8
(1) Corn farming is a cornerstone of North Carolina's agricultural economy, with 9
approximately 900,000 acres dedicated to its cultivation and generating over 10
seven hundred fifty-six million nine hundred thousand dollars ($756,900,000) 11
in cash receipts. Thousands of farmers rely on corn production to support 12
livestock feed, ethanol, and food processing industries. 13
(2) In 2024, North Carolina's corn farmers faced unprecedented challenges due to 14
extreme weather events, including severe drought, excessive rainfall, and 15
multiple hurricanes. These disasters resulted in widespread crop losses, 16
infrastructure damage, and significant financial strain on farm operations. 17
(3) The United States Department of Agriculture issued multiple secretarial 18
disaster declarations covering affected counties, recognizing the devastating 19
impact on corn production. While federal assistance has provided some relief, 20
additional State support is necessary to aid recovery and ensure future 21
resilience. 22
(4) North Carolina's corn farmers have demonstrated resilience by adopting 23
conservation practices and improved farming techniques. However, targeted 24
investment in disaster relief, infrastructure, and research is essential to 25
stabilize the industry and protect the State's agricultural economy. 26
27
PART II. TRANSFERS AND APPROPRIATIONS 28
SECTION 2.1.(a) Transfer. – The State Controller shall transfer the sum of 29
eighty-nine million five hundred eight thousand seven hundred ninety-two dollars ($89,508,792) 30
from the State Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund to the Department of Agriculture 31
and Consumer Services (Department). 32
SECTION 2.1.(b) Appropriation. – The funds transferred in subsection (a) of this 33
section are appropriated to the Department for the 2024 Agricultural Disaster Corn Crop Loss 34
Program, as established in Part III of this act. These funds and remaining funds from Section 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 296-First Edition
5.9A(c)(2) of S.L. 2021-180 and Section 5.4(a)(4)a. of S.L. 2022-74 shall be used to assist 1
farmers in counties designated by the United States Department of Agriculture as agricultural 2
disasters that occurred during 2024 in this State. 3
4
PART III. 2024 AGRICULTURAL DISASTER CORN CROP LOSS PROGRAM 5
SECTION 3.1.(a) Agricultural Disaster Corn Crop Loss Program. – The 2024 6
Agricultural Disaster Corn Crop Loss Program is established within the Department of 7
Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Program shall be used to provide financial assistance 8
to farmers with verified losses of corn from an agricultural disaster in this State in 2024. The 9
Department may use up to one percent (1%) of funds allocated for the Program for administrative 10
purposes. To be eligible for financial assistance for losses of corn, a person must satisfy all of the 11
following criteria: 12
(1) The person experienced a verifiable loss of corn, as a result of an agricultural 13
disaster in 2024, and the person's farm is located in an affected area for the 14
respective agricultural disaster. 15
(2) The corn was planted but not harvested on or before the eligibility date. For 16
purposes of this subsection, the term "eligibility date" refers to the date of the 17
disaster set forth in the Secretarial declaration for the county in which the corn 18
is located and for which verifiable losses are claimed. 19
SECTION 3.1.(b) Verification of Loss. – A person seeking financial assistance for 20
losses of corn under the Program shall submit to the Department a Form 578 on file with the 21
USDA Farm Service Agency or a form provided by the Department for reporting acreage or 22
plantings of corn crops or loss that is not typically reported on Form 578, along with any other 23
documentation deemed appropriate by the Department, no later than 45 days after this section 24
becomes effective. For corn crops where the survival level is not immediately known, the 25
Department may extend this deadline by an additional 45 days, upon written request by the person 26
received no later than 45 days after this section becomes effective and upon approval by the 27
Department. A person receiving assistance under this Program mus