Governor Stein Doesn’t Just Talk the Talk, He Continues Environmental Advocacy

Gov. Josh Stein last week released his full biennium budget proposal for 2025-2027 to the NC General Assembly. Stein’s proposed budget contains strong recommendations for strengthening the state’s efforts in pollution control, drinking water safety, and conservation of land and water resources. 

The governor’s budget recommendations included the following: 

• A 16.7% increase in overall funding for the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the first year of the biennium, followed by a 5.7% increase for the second year. (The difference lies in a larger share of non-recurring funding being allocated in the first year.) 
• Funding for the Division of Waste Management to maintain lab operations and add capacity to collect and test samples for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), the long-lasting “forever chemicals”. The lab offers testing services for public water systems, well owners, other water sources, and landfills. This funding will help the lab handle new testing protocols and an expected increase in testing demand as new standards are implemented over the next two years. It will also enable the division to perform required PFAS monitoring of 280 landfills across the state, protecting communities by identifying, reducing, and remediating PFAS pollution. 
• Continues for two years a position in the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) to provide services for local governments in the state’s 20 coastal counties. RCCP provides financial and technical assistance, including engineering and construction support, on preparing for and responding to flooding, storm surge, and erosion. This funding will enable RCCP to increase the number of local governments receiving assistance to 89 by 2027.
• Provides an additional $2 million to the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), bringing its support to $30 million in FY2025-26. PARTF provides grants to support land acquisition and projects in state and local parks, as well as beach access.
• Increases funding to the NC Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) by $2 million to bring its total level of support for FY2025-26 to $30 million as well. NCLWF grants support projects to protect and restore land and water resources (including degraded streams), preserve military facility buffer lands, and improve stormwater treatment. 
• Provides a $5 million recurring appropriation in each year of the 2025-27 biennium to the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (DACS). DACS helps preserve farmland in North Carolina.

Will These Proposals Become Legislation?

Strong recommendations like these by the governor help to shape a more favorable atmosphere to open debate in the legislative process. Yet, the General Assembly ultimately makes the final decisions of what to include.

We will continue to work with Governor Stein to get legislation that bring us clean water, clean air, and a just transition to clean energy. If this work is important to you, we ask you to donate today. And if you’d like to help us applaud the environmental leaders at the General Assembly, RSVP to the 2025 Green Tie Awards.