H.R. 8830: Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2026

This bill would direct FEMA to run a pilot grant program to improve mapping of urban flooding and related property damage, and to make that information easier for the public to access.

What the pilot program would do

FEMA would give grants to certain local governments, or to their stormwater management agencies, so they can:

• create or improve maps showing where urban flooding is likely to occur;
• estimate flood-related property damage more accurately;
• provide more detailed flood risk information for specific buildings;
• share the information with homeowners, businesses, and local governments;
• post the data online through a web portal; and
• use climate trend information when assessing flood risk.

What counts as “urban flooding”

The bill defines urban flooding broadly as water damage in built-up areas, especially densely populated places, when rainwater or nearby water overwhelms drainage systems. It includes situations such as:

• water entering buildings through doors, windows, or other openings;
• sewage or water backing up through drains or toilets;
• water seeping through walls or floors;
• water collecting on property or public roads; and
• overflow from rivers, lakes, or oceans.

It does not include flooding in undeveloped or agricultural areas.

Who could receive grants

Eligible recipients would be:

• local governments in urbanized areas with more than 50,000 people; or
• stormwater management authorities serving those areas.

The bill limits each eligible government or agency to one grant under the program.

How FEMA would pick recipients

FEMA would select recipients using a set structure based on city size and location. Over the life of the pilot, FEMA would select 12 total recipients:

• 3 from the largest cities or their stormwater agencies;
• 6 from mid-sized cities or their stormwater agencies; and
• 3 from smaller cities or their stormwater agencies.

For some of the mid-sized and larger-city awards, FEMA would give priority to applicants that are:

• highly vulnerable to sea level rise;
• home to military installations or other national security-related facilities; or
• serving communities that are especially vulnerable to flooding and have fewer resources for flood response and mitigation.

How the grant money could be used

Grant funds could only be used for activities that support the program’s goals, such as:

• developing easy-to-understand flood mapping tools;
• providing estimates of how often a structure might flood in a year;
• providing building-specific flood risk assessments;
• designing programs to reduce flood risk; and
• including climate-related information in flood risk assessments.

Federal funding could cover up to 75% of the cost of the approved activities.

Deadlines and reporting

Recipients would have to complete the funded activities within 18 months of receiving the grant. They would then have to report to FEMA within 30 months on what they did, whether the work met the program goals, any lessons learned, and recommendations for future FEMA mapping efforts.

FEMA would also have to submit public reports to Congress every two years describing progress and how effective the mapping tools are. The final report would include recommendations for how the federal government could better address urban flooding.

Funding

The bill authorizes:

• $2 million for fiscal year 2027; and
• $5 million for fiscal year 2028, available through fiscal year 2030.

Relevant Companies

None found.