MT Raleigh Report: NC General Assembly Wraps Up for Summer – With Key Wins for WNC Disaster Recovery

June 30, 2025

Last week, the North Carolina General Assembly wrapped up what is expected to be the bulk of its work for the 2025 legislative session — with one major exception. Here’s a look at what lawmakers accomplished, what remains unresolved, and how MountainTrue’s advocacy made a difference for Western North Carolina and the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene.

Progress on Disaster Recovery for WNC

Despite failing to pass a full state budget (more on that below), House and Senate leaders came together at the last minute to approve nearly $500 million in disaster relief funding — including several items MountainTrue directly advocated for and supported:

$10 million to repair, modify, or remove dams damaged by Hurricane Helene
$3 million for landslide hazard mapping in Western North Carolina
$15 million for the NC Forest Service to strengthen wildfire preparedness, including equipment and contract services
$16 million for the Town of Canton, including:
- $2 million in emergency operating support to maintain wastewater treatment services
- $14 million for acquisition and development of a new regional wastewater treatment facility outside the floodplain — a major step forward for long-term resilience and environmental protection

These critical investments represent real progress for our region and reflect the strength of your support and our collective advocacy efforts.

Budget Impasse Continues

Unfortunately, the General Assembly adjourned without approving a new state budget. At the heart of the deadlock: a bitter standoff between House and Senate Republicans over tax policy.

House Republicans want to freeze previously approved tax cuts that are just now taking effect, citing warnings from nonpartisan economists about future budget shortfalls.
Senate Republicans dismiss those concerns and are pushing to accelerate the cuts.

Until this impasse is resolved, negotiations over the rest of the $32 billion state budget — including funding for schools, healthcare, infrastructure, and environmental protection — remain on hold.

What’s Next

The legislature is expected to take most of the summer off, returning sporadically until one side gives ground. In the meantime, MountainTrue’s advocacy team will be ready, continuing to push for smart investments and policies that protect our rivers, forests, and mountain communities.

We couldn’t do this work without you — thank you for standing with us.

Resilient Forests Organizer

Western North Carolina

Apply Now

Position Summary

MountainTrue is seeking a Resilient Forests Organizer. This is a full-time position (40hrs/week) based in western North Carolina that reports to the Organizing Manager. They are tasked with:

60% – Organizing, advocacy, and outreach to engage the public to address threats and seek opportunities to protect, invest in, and better steward local, state, and federal public lands in the region.

40% – Manage volunteers to steward public lands and build a sense of ownership and appreciation for our public lands through activities such as non-native species control, ecological restoration, and monitoring and maintenance of trail and road infrastructure on public lands.

Key Responsibilities

Work with the Resilient Forests Program Director, Organizing Manager, Deputy Directors, Regional Directors, and partner organizations to organize the public around campaigns to protect public lands from exploitation.
Support the Resilient Forests Program Director, the Organizing Manager, and Regional Directors to organize MountainTrue members and the general public to steward public lands by controlling invasive species, maintaining trails, monitoring road conditions, and helping to accomplish ecological restoration projects.
Educate the public about their rights and responsibilities through curricula, blog posts, social media, letters to the editor, and opinion pieces related to public lands.

Qualifications

Organizing Experience: Proven experience working with communities on issue campaigns through on-the-ground grassroots organizing and online mobilization.

Project Leadership: Experience in planning, leading, and managing projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, and tracking and reporting on progress to senior managers.

Communications: Skilled in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications. Ability to convey complex ideas through brief, simple materials. Experience and credibility when presenting materials to external audiences.

Collaboration: Effective at working with others to reach common goals and objectives.

Relationship Building: Skilled at establishing and cultivating strong relationships with peers, across different levels of the organization and externally. Proven ability to establish strong relationships with community members.

Additional Qualifications: Required

Familiarity with Western North Carolina and the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.
Demonstrated excellence in organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Proficiency and comfort with public speaking.
Experience and ability to work outdoors, including in steep terrain and inclement weather.
Willingness to learn new skills and grow.

Additional Preferred Experience

Experience with online advocacy tools or CRMs such as EveryAction, Bonterra, Action Network, Salsa Labs, Blue State Digital, or Nationbuilder
Proficiency in basic computer applications and software
Fundraising experience
Project management tools such as Asana, Monday, or Zoho
Leading groups in outdoor settings
Knowledge of public lands and local conservation issues
Knowledge of local flora, fauna, and ecology
Experience with wilderness first aid

Location & Travel

This position is based in Western North Carolina. This position utilizes frequent virtual meetings and phone calls. Travel costs are covered by the organization.

Compensation

$50,000 annual salary. The benefits package includes 20 vacation days per year, 12 holidays, sick leave, a sabbatical after five years, health insurance, and a simple IRA with an employer contribution of up to 3%. MountainTrue provides continuing education and professional development support.

How to apply

Email resume, cover letter, and three references to Organizing Manager Linda Tatsapaugh at linda@mountaintrue.org.

In your cover letter, describe your role in a past grassroots campaign and what you learned from the experience. Also, name your favorite protected species (flora or fauna) and why.

Application deadline: Friday, July 25, 2025

MountainTrue values and respects all types of diversity and strongly encourages applicants from traditionally marginalized groups to apply. We prohibit discrimination and harassment and provide equal employment opportunity without regard to, and not limited to, ethnicity, religion, race, national origin, abilities, gender identity, age or genetic information. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, and promoting those from minority and disadvantaged groups.

Take Action: Tell NC Senate to Keep Funding for Dam Removal in HB1012 – Disaster Recovery Part II

Photo: American Rivers, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, MountainTrue, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and the National Park Service (NPS) came together to remove an earthen dam from Cranberry Creek Preserve in the New River watershed this May.

Tell NC Senate: Let’s Keep the Momentum for Dam Removal

We’re grateful to members of the North Carolina House for including funding for dam removal in HB1012. Now it’s up to the Senate to support this investment to help keep our communities safer, restore rivers, and support local jobs and economies.

Take Action

When Hurricane Helene struck, 41 dams failed or were severely damaged, putting homes, roads, and lives at risk. Hundreds more outdated, unmaintained dams remain across the state—each one a potential hazard.

We’ve already seen the power of dam removal in action. The Shulls Mill Dam, removed in 2024 with state support, helped prevent infrastructure damage during Helene flooding on the Watauga River. Just downstream, the Wards Mill Dam removal protected neighbors and opened up miles of habitat for native species.

Let’s build on that success.

Take a moment to tell Senators to prioritize dam removal funding to continue supporting this life-saving, river-restoring work.

Join MountainTrue’s Board of Directors!

MountainTrue seeks a diverse board representing its service areas, including different areas of expertise and life experiences.

If interested, please complete the board member application and attach your CV/bio. Click here to apply. The Governance and Equity Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, and the full board considers new members at its August meeting. Click here to view the board member job description.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Take Action & Tell NC Lawmakers: Fund Recovery, Remove Dangerous Dams, and Expand Housing Options

The NC House has passed a strong disaster recovery package—HB1012—that includes $10 million for dam removal, $60 million for small business relief, and millions more for clean water infrastructure, parks, and storm cleanup. This is the bill our communities need.

At the same time, housing legislation like SB495, which would allow for more low-impact housing by permitting Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), is stalled in the General Assembly. These “granny flats” and “in-law suites” help address our housing shortage without paving over forests and farmland.

Use the form below to tell your lawmakers:

Pass HB1012 without delay.
Keep dam removal funding in the bill.
Advance SB495 to expand housing options.

Take Action

MT Raleigh Report – Legislative Update: Crunch Time in Raleigh: Where Key Bills for WNC Stand

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer—but in Raleigh, it signals something else: the homestretch of the North Carolina General Assembly’s legislative session.

While our legislature doesn’t have a firm end date, the new fiscal year begins on July 1. Republican leaders in both the Senate and House—where the GOP holds majorities—are signaling that they want to finalize a state budget and wrap up the session soon after.

That means the next few weeks will be the most important of the year for shaping North Carolina’s policies and spending priorities. Key decisions are still up in the air, and lawmakers will need to find agreement—or risk dragging the session deep into the summer or leaving town without finalizing a budget, again.

Here’s where things stand—and how they affect Western North Carolina:

Helene Recovery: Progress, But More Work Ahead

The Senate’s proposed budget includes $700 million for disaster recovery following Hurricane Helene—but offers no details on how or when the funds would be used.

Meanwhile, the House has taken a clearer step forward, passing a stand-alone recovery bill—House Bill 1012 (HB1012)—that allocates $464 million in targeted relief, including $60 million for a long-overdue small business loan program, $45 million for water infrastructure and underground storage tank bridge loan programs, $55 million for NC Dept. of Agriculture for wildfire preparedness, streamflow assistance, and other farm assistance, $12.5 million for state and local park cleanup, and $15 million for debris removal unmet needs, among other items.

Thanks to weeks of advocacy by MountainTrue and our supporters, the House bill also includes $10 million for dam removal—a critical investment that would unlock federal funding to remove aging, hazardous dams that pose a serious risk during heavy storms, including the over 40 dams severely damaged in Helene that are now prone to failure. HB1012 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

The Budget Battle

Crafting the state’s two-year budget remains lawmakers’ top task—but it won’t be easy. Budget forecasts show potential deficits in the coming years. While House Republicans want to slow the pace of tax cuts until revenues rebound, Senate Republicans are pushing for faster, deeper tax cuts and dispute the deficit projections.

On Helene recovery, both chambers agree more help is needed—but differ on how to deliver it. The House wants to pass HB1012 on its own, avoiding delays tied to broader budget negotiations. The Senate appears likely to fold the bill into the budget, making it harder for Democrats to oppose—or for Gov. Josh Stein to veto—without jeopardizing critical relief.

Housing: ADUs Can Help Fix the Crisis

One of MountainTrue’s top legislative priorities is promoting housing options that allow us to address our housing shortage without creating sprawl and negatively impacting our natural environment. That’s why we support reforms such as legislation that would require local governments to allow the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)—also known as “granny flats” or in-law suites.

These small homes, often built on lots with existing houses, provide lower-cost, in-fill housing so we can build in and up instead of out into our forests, farms, and open spaces. While several ADU bills have been introduced, they’ve stalled in both chambers. MountainTrue is urging lawmakers to move forward on ADU legislation before the end of the session.

How You Can Help

The decisions made over the next few weeks will shape North Carolina’s future—and your voice matters.

Please contact your state Senator and urge them to:

Support the dam removal funding in HB1012 to protect communities and leverage federal dollars.
Pass HB1012 as a stand-alone bill, so critical aid reaches families, small businesses, and local governments without delay.
Advance SB495 to allow Accessory Dwelling Units, a practical step to increase affordable housing options in our communities.

Take Action

Thank you for standing with MountainTrue as we fight for a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Western North Carolina.