IMAGES Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5229
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Finance and Financial Sector
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-09: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-23T18:51:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to enhance the accuracy, detail, and accessibility of National Flood Insurance Program rate maps, which identify flood risks for insurance and planning purposes. It focuses on incorporating more precise geographic data, updating mapping standards, improving data availability, and securing dedicated funding for map maintenance.
Key Provisions
- Requires rate maps to include planimetric features (such as roads, building outlines, and water bodies) along with associated parcel identification data and, where possible, property addresses.
- Updates map formats to align with the National Spatial Reference System 2022 within five years of its completion and ensures spatial accuracy per federal geospatial protocols.
- Directs coordination with the U.S. Geological Survey to maintain and expand stream flow monitoring networks, including keeping gages operational, adding stations in high-risk areas, reactivating inactive ones, and speeding up real-time data feeds.
- Mandates a public national geospatial data repository on the FEMA website, allowing access to raw mapping data, property-level details, flood risk zones, elevations, models, and related reports.
- Requires verification that rate map data remains current and credible at least every five years.
- Establishes qualifications-based selection processes for contracts involving program management, engineering, surveying, and mapping services, with similar rules for subcontractors.
- Allocates 5 percent of certain National Flood Insurance Fund revenues each quarter specifically for creating and maintaining accurate rate maps.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill amends the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 by expanding required map elements, adding new requirements for data formats and public access, and inserting sections on stream monitoring and contracting standards. It also modifies the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 by adding a dedicated funding allocation mechanism from the National Flood Insurance Fund.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies, particularly FEMA and the U.S. Geological Survey, would face increased coordination and data management responsibilities.
- Citizens could gain better access to detailed flood risk information, potentially leading to more informed insurance decisions and property planning.
- Local communities and the insurance sector may see improved mapping tools that support risk assessment and mitigation efforts.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its Administrator, responsible for map production and data dissemination.
- The U.S. Geological Survey, involved in stream flow network maintenance.
- Property owners and local governments that rely on flood maps for insurance and development decisions.
- Private sector firms providing surveying, mapping, and engineering services under new contracting rules.
- The National Flood Insurance Program and related revenue streams.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation emphasizes public data transparency and standardized contracting methods based on qualifications rather than price alone, which aligns with existing federal procurement practices but adds specific state licensing protections. It introduces no apparent constitutional concerns and focuses on technical improvements to existing flood mapping authorities without altering core program structures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-09: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-09-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Improvement of Mapping, Addresses, Geography, Elevations, and Structures Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-09 — PDF (11 pages)