HB 798

Appropriates $1.72 million in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-27 biennium from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging (Division), to establish a Cold Weather Shelters Grant Program (Program) to provide grants to municipalities and nonprofits for Program providing temporary emergency shelters for homeless people when severe weather is expected. Requires the Division, in consultation with the Division of Emergency Management, to develop application materials and selection criteria, which takes into consideration availability of other funds available to the applicant and the incidence of poverty in the service area. Caps grant amounts at $215,000 for any fiscal year. Allow using up to 5% to cover administrative costs. Requires the Division to report annually, beginning in 2027, to the specified NCGA committee and division on the use of the funds; sets out additional requirements for the content of the reports. Effective July 1, 2025.