Rep. Cynthia Ball is proposing a plan aimed at preventing major disruptions during icy conditions in North Carolina. Her draft legislation, titled Keeping North Carolina Open for Business, would establish a state-managed rock salt reserve and provide funding to cities and towns to equip their trucks with the tools needed to clear local roads after significant storms.
According to The News & Observer, the proposal includes a recurring $5 million fund to build a rock salt stockpile that can be turned into brine, $20 million to outfit trucks with plows, and about $10 million annually in ongoing local aid, totaling roughly $35 million as part of a House Democrats funding package. The draft could also require some local matching funds for certain grants. Ball plans to formally file the measure when lawmakers return in April, and the state’s legislative calendar shows the General Assembly reconvening on April 21, 2026, giving sponsors a narrow window to advance new spending.
Storms Drained Supplies And Drove Up Costs
Back-to-back winter storms in January depleted parts of North Carolina’s salt stockpile and generated significant costs. NCDOT recorded at least $33.4 million in storm response expenses, and the state purchased about $5 million worth of salt during that period, WRAL reported. Officials said recent purchases will leave roughly 50,000 tons of salt on hand, enough for one major storm, though the goal is to maintain supplies for two to three storms. Gov. Josh Stein visited NCDOT’s Brine Mountain facility in Raleigh in late January and urged the state to replenish reserves ahead of the next severe weather, according to a press release from the North Carolina Office of the Governor.
How The Reserve Would Work
Under Ball’s draft, the N.C. Department of Transportation would manage and distribute the state’s salt reserve and create an application process for municipalities needing help replenishing their supplies. Cities and towns that access NCDOT funds would also be required to publish a real-time map showing when streets in their jurisdiction are cleared. Supporters say the mapping requirement would provide residents and businesses with a clearer idea of when it is safe to return to the roads after a major storm.
What’s Next In Raleigh
Ball plans to file the bill when the General Assembly’s short session begins in April and is seeking input from local governments and transportation officials in the meantime. With the legislature set to reconvene on April 21 and a bill-drafting deadline already in place, sponsors face a tight timeline to advance recurring spending during the short session…