Sponsors (2)
The bill clarifies and expands FEMA eligibility and assistance for condominiums, cooperatives, and other common‑interest communities—improving safety, habitability, and recovery speed for those residents—while creating new documentation and administrative burdens, potential inequities across residents and jurisdictions, and some additional federal cost.
Residents of condominiums, housing cooperatives, and other common‑interest communities (homeowners and renters) will be explicitly recognized as eligible under the Stafford Act, making it clearer they can access FEMA disaster assistance and recovery coordination.
Residents of common‑interest communities (homeowners and renters) can have hazardous debris removed after disasters when a state or local written finding exists, reducing immediate health/safety risks and helping restart economic recovery.
Residents of condominiums and cooperatives (homeowners and renters) can receive FEMA Public Assistance to repair essential common elements (HVAC, elevators, roofs) when they document their pro rata share, improving habitability and reducing large unexpected common‑area repair costs for unit owners.
Homeowners, unit owners, and associations must bear new administrative and documentation burdens (proving association status or pro rata shares), which can create out‑of‑pocket costs and delay access to FEMA assistance.
Low‑income residents and renters in multi‑unit housing may be excluded or delayed from aid if housing arrangements are atypical or unit owners cannot document shares, producing unequal recovery outcomes within the same building.
Federal taxpayers may face increased costs because expanding debris‑removal and public‑assistance eligibility for common‑interest property makes more private property eligible for federal cleanup and repairs.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Allows FEMA Public Assistance to cover debris removal and repair of essential common elements in condos/co‑ops when state/local certification and owner pro rata documentation are provided.
Introduced January 30, 2025 by Theodore Paul Budd · Last progress January 30, 2025
Allows FEMA to treat debris removal from condominium and housing cooperative common areas as eligible public assistance after a major disaster when a state or local government certifies the debris threatens life, health, safety, or economic recovery, and lets FEMA cover repair of essential common elements (like roofs, HVAC, elevators) when unit owners’ pro rata shares are documented. Adds legal definitions for "residential common interest community," "condominium," and "housing cooperative," and applies only to major disasters declared on or after enactment.