Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6256
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Finance and Financial Sector
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-21: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-17T08:07:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act (H.R. 6256) aims to support ecosystem restoration efforts by amending the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014. It simplifies regulatory processes for updating flood insurance maps and permitting restoration projects in flood-prone areas, encouraging projects that restore or enhance natural floodplain functions without imposing undue financial or procedural burdens.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Ecosystem Restoration Project: Defines such a project as one primarily aimed at altering a site's physical, chemical, or biological features to recover degraded aquatic resources or floodplains, or to improve their natural functions (e.g., water filtration or habitat support).
- Fee Exemption for Map Changes: Eliminates review or processing fees for requests to update flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) when changes result from an ecosystem restoration project.
- Permitting in Regulatory Floodways: Allows local communities to approve restoration projects in designated floodways (areas where water flows during floods) that may raise the base flood elevation (the water level expected in a 1% annual chance flood, or "100-year flood") if:
- A licensed professional engineer certifies that the project's combined impact with existing development will not raise the base flood elevation by more than 1 foot (or a higher threshold set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA).
- No homes with flood insurance or critical infrastructure (e.g., hospitals, power plants) are in areas affected by the elevation increase.
- The community submits a post-project analysis to FEMA within 180 days of completion.
- Preservation of Existing Procedures: Maintains current rules for notifying landowners about development in floodways.
- Guidance Requirement: Directs the FEMA Administrator to issue implementation guidance within 180 days of enactment, after consulting federal and state natural resource agencies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Replaces Section 22 of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 entirely, shifting focus from prior affordability measures to targeted support for ecosystem restoration.
- Introduces new exemptions from fees and conditional approvals for floodway projects, which were previously restricted to prevent flood risks.
- Updates the law's table of contents to reflect the revised section title.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: FEMA will handle more map update requests without fees, potentially increasing workload but streamlining environmental approvals. Federal and state natural resource agencies (e.g., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state environmental departments) will influence guidance, promoting coordinated restoration efforts.
- On Citizens and Communities: Local governments and residents in flood-prone areas may see easier implementation of green infrastructure projects, like wetland restoration, which could reduce long-term flood damages and improve water quality. Homeowners benefit indirectly through preserved flood insurance affordability and enhanced natural flood protections.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could align U.S. practices with global environmental goals (e.g., climate resilience under international agreements like the Paris Accord) by supporting floodplain restoration.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: FEMA (oversees flood mapping and guidance); natural resource agencies (e.g., Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) for consultation.
- State and Local Governments: Communities managing floodplains, who gain flexibility in permitting but must submit analyses to FEMA.
- Environmental and Restoration Groups: Organizations proposing projects, benefiting from reduced barriers and costs.
- Property Owners and Developers: Landowners in floodways, who retain notification rights; insurers and homeowners, protected from impacts on insurable structures.
- Engineers and Professionals: Licensed engineers, required to certify project safety.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens flood management by balancing environmental restoration with flood risk safeguards, potentially reducing litigation over map changes. The 1-foot elevation limit and certification requirements provide clear, enforceable standards to avoid arbitrary approvals.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it operates within Congress's authority over interstate commerce and disaster management (e.g., via the National Flood Insurance Program). It respects property rights by preserving landowner notifications.
- Political: Encourages bipartisan environmental policy (introduced by members from both parties), signaling support for climate adaptation amid rising flood risks. Could influence future legislation on resilient infrastructure, though it may face debate over relaxing floodway rules in high-risk areas.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1], Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-21: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-11-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act — issued 2025-11-21 — PDF (4 pages)