Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4515
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S2280-2281)
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T14:33:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation establishes a pilot program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve mapping of urban flooding and related property damage. The goal is to make this data more accessible to homeowners, businesses, and local governments to better understand and reduce flood risks.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms, including "urban flooding" (water inundation in built environments from rain overwhelming drainage systems, excluding undeveloped areas), "urbanized area" (as designated by the Census Bureau), and categories for coastal and pelagic (ocean-bordering) localities.
- Pilot Program Establishment: FEMA must award grants to eligible local entities to develop public-friendly mapping tools, structure-specific flood risk projections, mitigation plans, and climate trend data, with all information posted online.
- Eligibility and Selection: Grants are limited to one-time awards for local governments or stormwater authorities in urbanized areas with populations over 50,000. Over the program's life, up to 12 recipients are selected in population-based tiers (Tier 1: over 800,000; Tier 2: 200,000–800,000; Tier 3: 50,000–200,000), with requirements for coastal and non-coastal representation.
- Priorities and Requirements: Priority goes to areas vulnerable to sea level rise, those with military installations, or communities with socioeconomic flood vulnerabilities. Grants cover up to 75% of costs, must be completed within 18 months, and require reports to FEMA.
- Reporting: Grantees submit reports after 30 months; FEMA provides biennial reports to Congress, including recommendations for broader urban flood mitigation.
- Funding: Authorizes $2 million for fiscal year 2027 and $5 million for fiscal year 2028 (available through 2030).
- Sense of Congress: Emphasizes structural mitigation, public education on flood-resilient construction, and cost-effective homeowner actions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill creates a new, time-limited grant program for urban flood mapping without directly amending prior statutes. It supplements existing FEMA flood-related activities by focusing specifically on urban flooding data tools and public access, rather than altering broader flood insurance or mapping frameworks.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: FEMA gains new administrative duties for grant management and reporting; local stormwater authorities and governments receive funding for mapping enhancements.
- Citizens and Businesses: Homeowners and property owners gain access to localized flood risk data to inform decisions.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- FEMA and its Administrator.
- Units of general local government and stormwater management authorities in qualifying urbanized areas.
- Homeowners, businesses, and residents in participating communities.
- Congress, through required oversight reports.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The program operates within FEMA's existing authority via federal grants and does not raise apparent constitutional concerns. It includes requirements for public data transparency and incorporates climate trends into assessments. Politically, it targets urban areas with varying coastal exposure and national security considerations, while limiting scope through population tiers and one-time grants.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S2280-2281)
- 2026-05-13: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-13 — PDF (14 pages)