Flood Insurance for Farmers Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative LaMalfa
Introduced
Summary
Allows local officials to grant targeted variances for agricultural buildings in high‑risk flood zones while keeping flood premiums linked to the structure's true risk and adding an optional umbrella policy for properties with multiple buildings. The bill would change when and how small farm structures can be exempted from elevation or floodproofing and set rules for pricing and extra coverage options.
Show full summary
- Farmers and rural property owners would be able to get variances for new or existing agricultural structures when elevation or floodproofing is impracticable, provided the building is not in a regulatory floodway or in areas of high velocity wave action. A variance is barred if the structure had more than one claim over $1,000 in the prior 10 years.
- Local zoning officials gain explicit authority to grant those variances without automatic community suspension from the National Flood Insurance Program, though FEMA can still act if a community fails to adopt proper variance criteria or enforce them.
- Property owners with multiple buildings, including commercial, multifamily, and agricultural sites, could buy an optional umbrella flood policy at chargeable rates; FEMA must report back to Congress on this option within 5 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Flexible flood rules for farm buildings
If enacted, local officials could grant variances so farm buildings in flood zones would not have to elevate or floodproof when that is not practicable. New buildings could not use this if they sit in a regulatory floodway, riverward of a levee, or in high‑velocity wave areas. For existing buildings with major damage or major repairs, the official would have to find elevation or floodproofing impracticable, and any work in a floodway could not raise base flood levels. The variance could not raise flood heights, risk public safety, create big public costs, nuisances, fraud, or conflict with local laws, and the building must have no more than one claim over $1,000 in any 10‑year period. FEMA would not suspend or put a community on probation only for allowing these variances, but could act if local criteria or enforcement are not adequate. If you get a variance, your NFIP premium would match a dry‑floodproofed rate or a comparable risk‑based rate. This would take effect upon enactment.
Optional umbrella flood policy for properties
If enacted, FEMA could offer one umbrella flood policy to cover multiple buildings on the same property. It could be offered for commercial, other residential (including multifamily rentals), and agricultural properties. Buying it would be optional and available at renewal or when you apply. The price would be at least the NFIP’s estimated chargeable rate, so savings are not guaranteed. FEMA would report to Congress on this within five years after enactment. This would take effect upon enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
LaMalfa
CA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Valadao
CA • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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