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HR6256119th CongressWALLET

Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act

Sponsored By: Representative Downing

Introduced

Summary

Make it easier to carry out ecosystem restoration projects in floodplains. This bill would add a new ecosystem restoration framework to the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 and change how FEMA and communities handle flood insurance map changes and regulatory floodway approvals for those projects.

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  • Communities and local governments could allow restoration projects inside regulatory floodways that increase base flood elevations if a professional engineer finds the cumulative effect is no more than 1 foot (or a different metric set by the FEMA Administrator) and no insurable structure or critical infrastructure would be harmed. The community must submit an analysis of changed conditions within 180 days after project completion.
  • Property owners and project sponsors would not have to pay review or processing fees for requests to change a flood insurance rate map based on an ecosystem restoration project. This removes a cost barrier to seeking FIRM updates tied to restoration work.
  • FEMA and covered federal and state natural resource agencies would get a formal definition of “ecosystem restoration project” and the FEMA Administrator would be required to issue guidance implementing the new rules within 180 days after enactment following agency consultation.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Some floodway restoration may raise water levels

The bill would let communities permit certain ecosystem restoration projects in a regulatory floodway even if water rises. A licensed engineer would need to find the project plus other development would not raise the base flood level by more than 1 foot, unless FEMA allows a different metric. No insurable building or critical infrastructure could be harmed by the higher flood level. The community would need to send FEMA an analysis within 180 days after the project is finished. Landowners would keep the same notice process for floodway development as before.

No fees for flood map changes

If passed, requests to change a flood insurance rate map tied to an ecosystem restoration project would have no review or processing fee. This could help property owners, project sponsors, and local governments save money on filings. The waiver would apply only to requests based on qualifying restoration projects.

FEMA guidance on restoration projects

FEMA would have to issue guidance within 180 days after enactment on how to carry out these rules. FEMA would consult federal and state natural resource agencies first. The bill would also define what counts as an ecosystem restoration project, focusing on recovering or improving natural floodplain and aquatic functions.

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Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Downing

MT • R

Cosponsors

  • Bynum

    OR • D

    Sponsored 11/21/2025

  • Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 11/21/2025

  • Perez

    WA • D

    Sponsored 11/21/2025

  • Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Wied

    WI • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 4/13/2026

  • Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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