This bill authorizes FEMA to provide Public Assistance grants to North Carolina governments for repairing private roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Helene when those roads are the sole access to homes or essential services. Costs are eligible regardless of pre-existing condition.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill authorizes FEMA to provide Public Assistance grants to North Carolina governments for repairing private roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Helene when those roads are the sole access to homes or essential services. Costs are eligible regardless of pre-existing condition.
Last updated: 1/6/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act</strong></p><p>This bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide Public Assistance (PA) grant funding, under certain conditions, to reimburse government entities covered under the major disaster declaration for North Carolina relating to Tropical Storm Helene for the costs of repairing, replacing, or restoring private roads and bridges damaged by Helene.</p><p>Under current law, the PA program provides grants for repairing disaster damage to infrastructure owned or legally maintained by government entities (or certain nonprofits). The bill authorizes PA funding for permanent repair work on privately owned and maintained roads and bridges significantly damaged by Helene in North Carolina, as costs incurred by state, tribal, or local governments for such work are eligible for reimbursement. </p><p>Also, under current law, the costs of repairing damage that existed before the disaster are generally ineligible for PA. The bill makes the repair, replacement, or restoration costs eligible for reimbursement under PA regardless of pre-existing condition.</p><p>Additionally, the bill contains criteria and conditions for reimbursement, including that to be eligible a road or bridge must be used as the sole means of accessing primary residences or essential community services. Reimbursement is under PA’s alternative procedures, and the bill requires FEMA to determine eligible costs based on estimates prepared by engineers.</p><p>Recipients of funds from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) before the bill’s enactment may use IHP funds for repairs eligible under the bill without those costs counting against their maximum amount of IHP assistance.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Authorizes FEMA grants for private road repairs in North Carolina
Applies to Tropical Storm Helene damage
Covers roads that are sole access to primary residences
Eligible regardless of pre-existing damage condition
Reimburses state, tribal, and local government repair costs
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
North Carolina residents isolated by Helene damage to private roads would regain access to their homes. Local governments could be reimbursed for repairing private roads that are the only way to reach homes and essential services.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Emergency Management
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
760, 119th Congress (2025). "Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-760
