H.R. 10122: Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation FORTIFIED and Wildfire Prepared Act

This bill would create a new federal program, run by FEMA, to help states pay for home upgrades that make houses more resistant to wind damage, hurricanes, and wildfires.

What the program would fund

The bill would authorize FEMA to provide money to states for revolving loan funds. States would use these funds to support homeowner projects that help a home qualify for one of these standards:

• FORTIFIED Roof
• FORTIFIED Home
• Wildfire Prepared Home

A revolving loan fund means money is loaned out, repaid over time, and then reused for new loans.

How the money would work

The bill would authorize $100 million per year from fiscal years 2027 through 2036 for FEMA to capitalize or recapitalize these state loan funds. States that want the money would have to apply and sign an agreement with FEMA.

States would generally need to put in their own funds too: for each federal grant, the state would need to deposit at least 35% of the grant amount into the loan fund. Existing state mitigation spending that covers the same kinds of projects could count toward that match.

What homeowners could receive

State agencies would be required to create a homeowner grant program using the loan funds. Those grants could pay for the cost of installing or improving a roof or home to meet the relevant resilience standard.

Key features include:

• Grants could cover labor and materials.
• States could set a grant cap, but it could not exceed $10,000 per project.
• Work would have to be done by qualified contractors and verified by qualified evaluators.
• For homeowners with incomes below 120% of area median income, the state would have to forgive repayment or any cost-share obligation tied to the grant.

Who could qualify

The bill sets broad eligibility rules, and states would administer the program within those rules. In general, eligible homes would need to be:

• the homeowner’s primary residence
• subject to a homestead exemption or similar owner-occupancy designation
• in a condition that allows the work to be completed

The bill would also require proof of insurance in many cases, including:

• wind coverage for Fortified Home projects
• flood coverage if the home is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area
• fire coverage for Wildfire Prepared Home projects in wildfire hazard areas

Homes used for new construction, condominiums, and mobile homes would not be eligible.

Other program rules

States would have to submit annual plans to FEMA showing how they intend to use the funds. FEMA and the states would also have to conduct audits and provide reports on how the money is being used.

The bill would allow FEMA to reserve up to 3% of the program funds for technical assistance, guidance updates, data systems, and oversight.

FEMA would be directed to issue clarified guidance within 180 days after enactment. Until final regulations are in place, FEMA could waive normal notice-and-comment rulemaking and run the program as a pilot if needed.

The bill also encourages states to coordinate with insurers so that certified home improvements may be recognized for actuarially justified premium discounts, where available.

Relevant Companies

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