Disaster Relief Fairness Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a temporary framework that makes automatic approval for qualifying major disaster declarations and provides the requested Stafford Act assistance from January 20, 2025 to January 20, 2029.
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- State and Tribal leaders would have a covered request deemed approved if FEMA's joint preliminary damage assessment meets the per-capita indicators or cost estimates for public assistance.
- Households could receive individual assistance when a FEMA Regional Administrator determines it is warranted under FEMA's current factors even if public assistance thresholds are not met.
- Assistance for covered requests could not be withheld or denied solely because a relevant deadline was missed.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
FEMA disaster aid automatically approved
If enacted, this would set a "covered period" from January 20, 2025 through January 20, 2029. During that time, a Governor's or tribal chief's request for a Presidential major disaster declaration would be treated as approved if either: FEMA's joint preliminary damage assessment meets the per‑capita indicators or cost estimates for public assistance in 44 C.F.R. 206.48(a) as in effect on the date of enactment, or the FEMA Regional Administrator determines individual assistance is warranted under 44 C.F.R. 206.48(b) as in effect on the date of enactment. The President would be required to provide the requested Stafford Act public or individual assistance for those covered requests. The President could not withhold or deny that assistance solely because a deadline was missed. Households, local governments, and businesses in covered disaster areas would get faster and more certain access to FEMA aid.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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