Messaging Memo: How to talk about the $500 million Helene relief bill

The dollar amount and timing makes it tricky, but here is how to thread the needle

This week, the General Assembly is advancing a $500 million Helene relief package to help western North Carolina recover. It’s the first such bill of 2025, and will likely be followed up throughout the year.

This bill is definitely worth messaging about, but discussing it is a little tricky for two key reasons: the dollar amount and the timing. Gov. Josh Stein proposed a $1 billion package, which makes the General Assembly’s funding amount look small in comparison. Also, this bill is moving relatively slow at a time when North Carolinians still urgently need help.

Next, I’ll go over how to thread the needle effectively.