Fix Our Flooded Basements Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4774
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-26: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-03T15:51:45Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to expand federal disaster assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to fully cover flood damage in basements, including repairs, personal property, and related insurance requirements.
Key Provisions
- Repairs: The FEMA Administrator must provide assistance for flood-damaged basements without limiting it to occupied rooms and must cover all mold, mildew, and moisture damage from a major disaster.
- Personal Property: Assistance must match the Standard Flood Insurance Policy coverage for items below the lowest floor (including basements) and cover repair or replacement of all damaged building and personal property in basements.
- Group Flood Insurance Policy: Within six months, FEMA must update regulations to:
- Allow prior assistance recipients and those outside special flood hazard areas to qualify.
- Expand coverage to the maximum level of the Standard Flood Insurance Policy.
- Include basement repairs for water damage, appliances, flooring, and other items to restore pre-flood condition, plus mold, mildew, and moisture damage.
- Assistance Caps: The maximum financial assistance limit excludes costs for hazard mitigation measures and Group Flood Insurance Policy premiums.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms such as "Administrator" (FEMA head), "Group Flood Insurance Policy," and "Standard Flood Insurance Policy."
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill amends sections of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) to remove prior restrictions on basement coverage. It directs updates to Code of Federal Regulations sections 61.17 and 206.119 to broaden eligibility and scope of the Group Flood Insurance Policy, and adds exclusions to the assistance cap in section 408(h).
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases FEMA's administrative and financial responsibilities for processing claims and updating policies.
- Citizens: Provides greater financial support to homeowners with flood-damaged basements, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs for repairs and replacements.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Homeowners and residents in flood-prone areas with basements.
- FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security.
- State and local emergency management agencies involved in disaster recovery.
- Insurance providers participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill operates within existing federal disaster relief authority and does not raise apparent constitutional issues. It focuses on regulatory and statutory adjustments to an established program without altering core federal-state powers or introducing new mandates on private parties.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (22)
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-26: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-07-25: 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.
- 2025-07-25: 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.
- 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-23: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3625)
- 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Fix Our Flooded Basements Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-25 — PDF (6 pages)