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Introduced November 21, 2025 by Troy Downing · Last progress November 21, 2025
Creates a rule to treat certain ecosystem restoration projects differently when they ask FEMA to change flood maps. It defines what counts as an "ecosystem restoration project," waives FEMA fees for map-change requests tied to those projects, allows some restoration work in regulatory floodways that slightly raises base flood elevations under limits, requires a post-construction analysis within 180 days, and directs FEMA to consult natural resource agencies and issue guidance within 180 days of enactment.
The bill lowers financial and administrative barriers for beneficial wetland and floodplain restoration and adds safeguards for insurable structures, but it can raise local flood elevations for nearby properties, shift compliance costs to small jurisdictions, and creates some fiscal and assessment-quality risks at federal and local levels.
Homeowners, local governments, and restoration groups can pursue wetland and floodplain restoration projects without paying FEMA map-change request fees, reducing upfront costs for local ecosystem-restoration efforts.
Rural communities and local governments can implement environmentally beneficial projects that improve natural floodplain functions and habitat while allowing modest (up to 1 foot) increases in base flood elevation when certified by an engineer, enabling flood-risk reduction and ecological co-benefits.
Homeowners and owners of critical infrastructure gain protection because the bill bars restoration projects that would adversely affect insurable structures or critical infrastructure, reducing risk to property and essential services.
Homeowners and small-business owners located near restoration projects may experience higher local base flood elevations, which can increase flood insurance premiums and depress property values if impacts are not fully mitigated.
Local governments—especially small or rural jurisdictions—must pay for professional-engineer determinations and post-construction analyses, creating compliance and engineering costs that can strain limited local budgets.
Relying on a single professional engineer's certification to determine allowable cumulative effects risks variability or optimistic assessments, which could understate flood impacts and shift downstream risk to homeowners and communities.