Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act
Sponsored By: Senator Patty Murray
Introduced
Summary
Ecosystem restoration projects would be added to flood insurance law to make it easier to restore natural floodplain functions while adjusting map-change and approval rules for those projects.
Show full summary
- Project proponents and landowners would be exempt from paying review or processing fees when they request flood insurance rate map changes tied to an ecosystem restoration project.
- Local communities would be able to permit restoration projects inside an adopted regulatory floodway that increase base flood elevations by up to 1 foot if a professional engineer finds the cumulative effect is within that limit, no insurable structures or critical infrastructure are affected, and the community files an analysis within 180 days after completion.
- Federal and state natural resource agencies would be consulted and the Federal Emergency Management Agency would have to issue implementation guidance within 180 days after enactment. The bill also updates the HFIAA table of contents and preserves existing landowner notice procedures.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Waive flood map change fees
If enacted, requesters would be exempt from review and processing fees for a flood insurance rate map change tied to an ecosystem restoration project. The exemption would apply despite any other law. This change would take effect upon enactment.
Allow restoration projects in floodways
If enacted, a community could approve an ecosystem restoration project inside an adopted regulatory floodway. This could be allowed even if the project raises local base flood levels. A licensed engineer would have to find the project's combined effect would not raise the base flood water-surface by more than 1 foot. The FEMA Administrator could allow a larger metric in some cases. No insurable structure or critical infrastructure could be located where the rise would harm them. The community would have to send an analysis of the changed conditions to FEMA within 180 days after project completion. The bill would not change pre-enactment rules for notifying landowners about development in a regulatory floodway.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Patty Murray
WA • D
Cosponsors
Steve Daines
MT • R
Sponsored 5/1/2025
Thomas Tillis
NC • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Angela Alsobrooks
MD • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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