SAFE Rural Act
Sponsored By: Representative Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a mandatory, rural-focused pre-disaster mitigation program under the Stafford Act that delivers formula-based, pass-through grants to States and Indian tribal governments. It prioritizes nature-based and green infrastructure and builds sustained mitigation capacity in rural and tribal areas.
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- States and Indian tribal governments get formula grants that split available funds with 50% distributed equally and 30% weighted toward larger populations and lower incomes; the remainder rewards stronger mitigation capacity.
- Rural and tribal communities gain explicit support for nature-based solutions like wetland restoration, living shorelines, and riparian buffers, plus operations and maintenance planning and CAP-MIT grants to sustain local mitigation capacity at $1 million to $5 million annually.
- Each State and tribe must reserve at least 15% of its allocation for small projects with a $500,000 maximum, and small-project grant rules are streamlined to speed decisions and funding.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
How SAFE Rural funds would be split
If enacted, SAFE Rural funds would be split each year: 50% divided equally, 30% with extra preference for higher-population and lower-median-income areas, and the rest for entities that prove capacity to manage grants. Each State or Tribe would get at least the lesser of $5 million or 1% of the year’s funds, and none could get more than the lesser of 15% of the year’s funds or $150 million. Only States and Indian Tribal governments would be eligible and must submit a predisaster administrative plan by October 1 before the fiscal year. FEMA and the President would have deadlines to approve plans and issue program guidance and regulations.
New rural disaster fund and BRIC
If enacted, the bill would create a new SAFE Rural Fund. The President would deposit 2% of each year’s Disaster Relief Fund appropriations into it. FEMA would also transfer a one-time amount equal to 2% of the Disaster Relief Fund balance on enactment. The bill would also require reserving 10% of last year’s Disaster Relief Fund appropriations for BRIC technical and financial assistance.
Faster small projects and nature solutions
If enacted, SAFE Rural grants could pay for nature-based fixes and traditional flood‑resilient public infrastructure. Each State or Tribe would reserve at least 15% of its allocation for small projects. Small projects would cost at most $500,000 and projects under $200,000 would use a short application and no benefit‑cost analysis, with decisions within 60 days. Some construction grants would need an operations and maintenance plan, but FEMA would offer a one‑page template and CAP‑MIT grants of $1 million to $5 million would help States and Tribes keep mitigation capacity.
Grant matches, audits, and repayment rules
If enacted, planning subgrants would normally need at least a 10% non‑Federal match and project subgrants would normally need at least a 25% match. FEMA could reduce or waive the match for underserved or economically distressed rural, Tribal, or territorial communities. Recipients and subgrantees would file quarterly performance and financial reports, keep records, allow inspections, and FEMA could audit and require repayment for unauthorized or misused funds.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/21/2026
Rep. Gallagher, James [R-CA-1]
CA • R
Sponsored 7/21/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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