Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a nationwide, climate-informed Federal Flood Risk Management Standard to raise and standardize how federally funded projects and Federal real property account for current and future flood risk. It aims to make Federal projects last longer and reduce harm from increasing floods by using better science and clearer rules for siting, design, and disclosures.
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- Families and communities: Projects affecting homes and public places would need higher protections like floodproofing or elevated structures, using a freeboard of +2 feet for most actions and +3 feet for critical actions.
- Federal agencies and property managers: Agencies would have to use climate-informed hydrologic and hydraulic data to determine floodplains, evaluate floodplain effects in planning and budgets, and follow the new Standard for federally funded projects and Federal real property, with the Standard updated at least every 5 years.
- Financial transactions and transparency: Agencies must disclose flood hazards to private parties before loans, grants, leases, or property conveyances and the Water Resources Council would evaluate agency procedures at least every 2 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Flood risk disclosures and federal property limits
If enacted, agency heads that guarantee, approve, regulate, or insure financial transactions would have to tell private parties about base flood hazards before completing the deal. Agencies that manage federal property would have to follow flood insurance rules, use floodproofing, and elevate buildings when practicable. Agencies would mark public-facing buildings that were flooded or sit in hazard areas with past and probable flood heights. For leases or sales of federal land in a floodplain, agencies would add use restrictions or could withhold conveyance.
Stronger federal flood standards for projects
If enacted, agencies would have to use a climate-informed flood standard for federally funded projects. Agencies would add freeboard of 2 feet for non-critical actions and 3 feet for critical actions, or use the 0.2% (1-in-500) flood area. The Water Resources Council would update the Standard at least every five years. Agencies would report to the Council on Environmental Quality within one year and follow the Act only as funds and law allow.
New rules for planning, permits, environmental review
If enacted, agencies would have to determine whether actions are in floodplains before acting and include floodplain evaluations in NEPA statements when impacts are significant. Agencies would consider alternatives, rely on natural systems, and minimize harm if the only practicable option is in a floodplain. Agencies would send a short (no more than three pages) notice to State, local, and Tribal governments with maps and alternatives and allow a brief comment period. A local applicant for certain HUD-funded projects could assume the Act's notice duties only if they also take on all NEPA environmental review and decision responsibilities.
No delay to emergency disaster aid
If enacted, nothing in this Act would be construed to apply to emergency work under sections 403 and 502 of the Stafford Act that is essential to save human life and protect property. In short, life‑saving and essential emergency assistance would not be delayed by these new flood rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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