Sponsors (5)
The bill balances preserving agricultural operations and simplifying multi-structure flood coverage with measures to protect NFIP finances, but it increases localized discretion and flood risk that could raise costs for some property owners and taxpayers.
Farmers and rural property owners can obtain limited local variances to keep necessary agricultural structures in floodplains when elevation or floodproofing is impracticable, helping preserve farm operations and rural livelihoods.
Communities that adopt the limited-variance rules will not be penalized by NFIP suspension or adequacy findings solely for permitting such variances, allowing them to remain eligible for the NFIP and avoid loss of federal flood insurance access.
The bill allows owners of properties with multiple structures (e.g., multifamily rentals, farms) to buy a single umbrella flood policy, simplifying coverage administration and reducing paperwork and transaction costs for multi-structure owners.
If communities more frequently grant variances, NFIP losses could rise over time, potentially increasing premiums for other policyholders and exposing taxpayers to greater financial risk if program deficits grow.
Allowing variances instead of requiring elevation or floodproofing can increase flood-damage risk for farmers and rural property owners, raising their out-of-pocket repair costs and safety risks after floods.
Granting local officials discretion to approve variances creates the potential for inconsistent protections across jurisdictions and uneven enforcement or political pressure at the local level.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Allows localities to grant limited floodplain variances for certain agricultural structures without NFIP community penalties and requires FEMA to offer optional umbrella policies for multiple structures, with actuarial pricing and a 5-year report.
Introduced November 7, 2025 by Doug Lamalfa · Last progress November 7, 2025
Allows state or local authorities to grant limited variances from elevation or floodproofing requirements for certain agricultural structures in special flood hazard areas without causing a community to lose NFIP eligibility, if specific conditions are met (including limited prior claims and a finding that elevation/floodproofing is impracticable). Requires flood insurance premiums for such structures to equal the rate for dry floodproofing or a comparable actuarial rate. Also authorizes FEMA to offer an optional umbrella flood policy for properties with multiple structures (including agricultural and multifamily rental), to be offered at application or renewal and priced at chargeable actuarial rates; FEMA must report to Congress on implementation within five years.