Sponsors (4)
This bill makes it easier and cheaper to carry out floodplain and habitat restoration—potentially reducing long-term flood risk—while also allowing modest increases in base flood elevations and adding administrative and fiscal burdens that could shift costs to communities, property owners, and taxpayers unless FEMA guidance and funding offsets are implemented promptly.
Local governments, nonprofits, and nearby communities can permit and carry out ecosystem and habitat restoration projects with lower upfront regulatory cost because affected projects can avoid FEMA map-change request fees and limited increases in base flood elevation (up to 1 foot) will not automatically trigger penalties if no structures are harmed.
Communities gain clearer, time-bound federal coordination because FEMA must consult resource agencies and issue implementation guidance within 180 days, which should reduce regulatory uncertainty and help local planners and agencies coordinate restoration work.
Local governments and project proponents are required to perform post-project analyses within 180 days, creating more timely monitoring and accountability for flood impacts after restoration projects are completed.
Local governments will face added administrative burden and costs to certify engineering reports and produce 180-day post-project analyses, increasing staffing and compliance expenses for municipalities and counties.
Homeowners and nearby properties could face modestly higher flood risk because allowing up to a 1-foot rise in base flood elevation may alter flood dynamics and increase exposure for properties not designated as insurable or critical infrastructure.
Fee exemptions for map-change requests reduce FEMA fee revenue or increase workload without dedicated offsetting funds, potentially shifting costs to taxpayers or other FEMA programs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands FEMA fee exemptions to ecosystem restoration projects, allows limited floodway changes under conditions, requires 180-day post-project analyses, and directs FEMA guidance within 180 days.
Introduced May 1, 2025 by Patty Murray · Last progress May 1, 2025
Expands which restoration projects can get FEMA flood map fee waivers and lets communities permit certain ecosystem restoration work inside regulatory floodways that may raise base flood elevations a small amount. Requesters of covered projects are exempt from FEMA review/processing fees, communities can allow projects that raise the base flood elevation up to one foot (or a larger amount approved by FEMA) so long as no insurable structures or critical infrastructure are harmed, and communities must submit a post-project analysis within 180 days after project completion. FEMA must consult natural resource agencies and issue implementing guidance within 180 days of enactment.