Sponsors (4)
Prohibits FEMA from delaying or deferring issuance of letters of map revision (LOMR) or conditional letters of map revision (CLOMR) on the sole basis that fill has been placed on a property. The change is temporary: it stays in effect until the FEMA Administrator has fully implemented the Endangered Species Act requirements described in two biological opinions issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA, and it does not alter the substantive review or issuance steps for those letters.
The Administrator may not defer the issuance of any letters of map revision that are based on the placement of fill, nor may the Administrator defer conditional letters of map revision that are based on the placement of fill.
Rule of construction: Nothing in the new subsection (k) shall be construed to affect the review, determination, or issuance of the letters of map revision or conditional letters of map revision described in paragraph (1).
Repeal provision: The amendment made by this Act (the added subsection (k)) shall be repealed on the date on which, pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536), the FEMA Administrator fully implements the requirements contained within (a) the biological opinion from the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service and (b) the biological opinion from the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, each issued separately with respect to letters of map revision and conditional letters of map revision based on the placement of fill issued under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.
Who is affected and how:
Property owners and developers: More directly able to obtain LOMRs or CLOMRs when they have placed fill, because FEMA cannot defer issuance on that single basis. This can reduce delay risk for building or permitting tied to revised flood maps.
Local governments and floodplain managers: May see faster finalization of mapping changes tied to fill projects, which can affect local permitting, land use, and floodplain management decisions.
FEMA (agency operations): Limits one discretionary reason FEMA may use to delay map-revision letters, requiring FEMA to proceed with its ordinary review and issuance processes except for other valid technical or environmental reasons. The change is temporary and tied to FEMA's implementation of ESA-related obligations.
Insurers and mortgage lenders: Potential downstream effects on insurance requirements and lending decisions if map revisions proceed more quickly, changing flood zone designations for properties.
Environmental and conservation interests: May view the restriction with concern if placement of fill could harm protected species or habitats; however, the provision is temporary and expressly tied to full implementation of ESA biological opinions, and it does not remove FEMA's ability to consider other environmental factors in issuing letters.
Overall balance: The legislation narrowly restricts FEMA's ability to defer map-letter issuance for one specified reason (placement of fill) while preserving FEMA's standard review paths and other grounds for denial or deferral. It could speed property and permitting actions tied to fill but may raise environmental scrutiny until ESA-related implementation is complete.
Last progress June 6, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 6, 2025 by Doug Lamalfa
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.