Sponsors (4)
The bill increases outreach, transparency, and oversight to help jurisdictions and frontline responders secure and use homeland security grants more effectively, at the cost of added FEMA administrative expenses, greater burden on smaller jurisdictions, and delays before improvements are realized.
State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments — and frontline responders (police, fire, EMS) — will receive regular outreach and technical assistance to better apply for and use UASI and SHSGP grants, improving chances that awards align with local preparedness needs.
Communities and stakeholders will get clearer, documented feedback because annual surveys and required summaries increase transparency about stakeholder input and how FEMA incorporates that input into Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs).
Taxpayers and grant recipients gain stronger external oversight because GAO review and additional FEMA reporting create accountability that may improve program effectiveness and administration within two to three years.
Taxpayers and FEMA will face higher administrative costs because running surveys, producing summaries, and responding to GAO reviews will require additional staff time and resources or increased appropriations, potentially diverting funds from direct grant activities.
Smaller and resource-constrained local jurisdictions may face added administrative burden to participate in surveys and feedback processes, which could deter engagement or require them to divert local staff time from other duties.
Observable improvements to outreach, accountability, or grant outcomes may be delayed because reporting and GAO review timelines (two- and three-year deadlines) mean benefits may not materialize quickly for communities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires FEMA to conduct annual stakeholder surveys, publish feedback summaries tied to NOFO changes, implement outreach mechanisms, and deliver GAO and FEMA reports on preparedness grant outreach.
Requires FEMA to expand and formalize outreach, engagement, education, technical assistance, and feedback processes for two homeland security grant programs (Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program). It mandates annual stakeholder surveys, publication of summaries explaining how feedback shaped Notices of Funding Opportunity, other feedback mechanisms as appropriate, a GAO review within two years, and a FEMA report to relevant congressional committees within three years. The change aims to improve transparency and stakeholder input into grant design and outreach for state, local, tribal, and territorial partners that receive or apply for preparedness funding.
Official title: Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act
Introduced June 20, 2025 by Daniel Goldman · Last progress November 20, 2025