Wildfire Homeowner Relief Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2428
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-23T14:12:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Wildfire Homeowner Relief Act (H.R. 2428) aims to direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO), led by the Comptroller General, to study the potential for a federal program that buys homes from willing sellers in areas at high risk of severe wildfires. This study focuses on using existing federal grants to help homeowners relocate before or after disasters, reducing risks to lives and property.
Key Provisions
- GAO Study Mandate: The GAO must evaluate the practicality of federal grants for purchasing properties in high-risk wildfire zones, both preemptively (before disasters) and reactively (after disasters).
- Review of Existing Buyouts: The study includes compiling advice on:
- Creating a national database tracking past federal property purchases (called "covered buyouts") related to natural disasters, including which grant funded each, who maintains the land afterward, and any new development on it.
- Improving information sharing between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) about ongoing buyouts.
- Analysis of a New Wildfire Buyout Program: The GAO must:
- Compare a potential wildfire-specific buyout program to existing ones, such as those for flood-prone areas.
- Recommend which federal department or agency should oversee such a program.
- Suggest post-purchase land uses to lower wildfire risks, such as preventing rebuilding in dangerous spots, with considerations for rural vs. urban areas, low-income vs. wealthy communities, and community input on land decisions.
- Outline eligibility rules, including mapping high-risk zones and prioritizing areas where buyouts would save the most lives (e.g., by aiding evacuations).
- Term Definitions: The GAO will define key terms like "development" (building or changes on land), "disadvantaged community" (areas with economic or social challenges), "high-income community" (wealthier areas), and "catastrophic wildfire" (major, destructive fires).
- Report to Congress: Within 12 months of the bill's enactment, the GAO must submit a report with study results, recommendations (including ways to encourage homeowner participation), economic effects and federal costs of a buyout program, and the defined terms.
- Definition of Covered Buyout: A voluntary sale of property to the federal government from a homeowner in a disaster-threatened area.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill does not create a new buyout program or alter current laws directly. Instead, it introduces a one-time GAO study to gather information and recommendations, which could inform future legislation. It builds on existing federal disaster relief tools (like FEMA and HUD grants) by focusing specifically on wildfires, an area not as comprehensively addressed as floods in current buyout programs.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The study could guide FEMA, HUD, and other agencies in coordinating better on disaster buyouts, potentially leading to more efficient use of federal funds and a centralized database to track efforts. It might increase administrative workload for the GAO in the short term.
- On Citizens: Homeowners in wildfire-prone areas could benefit from future voluntary buyout options, allowing relocation to safer spots and reducing personal financial risks from fires. Low-income or rural communities might see tailored protections, promoting fairness in disaster relief.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. wildfire risks.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Homeowners and Residents: Particularly those in high-risk wildfire areas, who could gain relocation options.
- Federal Agencies: GAO (conducting the study), FEMA and HUD (improved coordination and potential program oversight).
- Communities and Local Governments: Urban, rural, disadvantaged, and high-income areas affected by wildfires, influencing land use and risk reduction.
- Congress: Receives the report to decide on future laws or funding for buyout programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill emphasizes voluntary participation, avoiding forced property takings that could raise Fifth Amendment concerns (which protects against government seizure without fair compensation). It promotes equity by addressing differences between community types, aligning with broader disaster relief laws like the Stafford Act.
- Constitutional: No major issues, as it mandates a study rather than new spending or regulations; any future program would need to respect property rights and equal protection under the law.
- Political: Highlights growing focus on climate-driven disasters like wildfires, potentially sparking debates on federal spending priorities and environmental justice. Recommendations could influence bipartisan support for risk-reduction policies in fire-prone states like California.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Wildfire Homeowner Relief Act — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (5 pages)