H.R.9291 Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026
Sponsor: Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (Introduced 06/11/2026)
Committees: Financial Services; Transportation and Infrastructure
Senate Version: S. 4757 (Same As)
Summary: Would establish a government-wide federal standard for managing flood risks and improving resilience to current and future flooding. It requires federal agencies to consider climate-informed flood data, higher flood-elevation standards, and long-term flood risks when planning, funding, or approving projects in flood-prone areas. Agencies would be expected to avoid floodplain development when practicable, evaluate alternatives, use nature-based solutions where possible, and minimize harm when projects must occur in floodplains. The bill aims to reduce flood-related losses, protect public safety, and ensure federally funded projects are built to withstand future flood risks.
Current Status: 06/11/2026 – Referred to Financial Services; Transportation and Infrastructure
Coalition Impact: As written, this bill does not directly impact the Levees in Fort Bend County because they are locally owned and maintained. The main purpose of this bill is to protect federal investments by increasing design standards and reduce future flood losses when federal funds are used. Similar to the various EO in the past, the Coalition will need to continue to monitor how various agencies would incorporate these requirements in programs that would impact Coalition members. Potential programs include:
- Various Grant Programs such Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA), Individual Assistance (IA), Public Assistance (PA) involving new construction, substantial improvement and repairs to address substantial damage and CDBG
- USACE’s PL84-99
- Federal Permitting
- HUD Finical Assistance (2025 Adoption that was Rescinded in EO 14148)
S. 4757 Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (Introduced 06/11/2026)
Committees: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
House Version: H.R.9291 (Same As)
Summary: Similar to previous EO, establish a government-wide federal standard for managing flood risks and improving resilience to current and future flooding. It requires federal agencies to consider climate-informed flood data, higher flood-elevation standards, and long-term flood risks when planning, funding, or approving projects in flood-prone areas. Agencies would be expected to avoid floodplain development when practicable, evaluate alternatives, use nature-based solutions where possible, and minimize harm when projects must occur in floodplains. The bill aims to reduce flood-related losses, protect public safety, and ensure federally funded projects are built to withstand future flood risks.
Current Status: 06/11/2016 – Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Coalition Impact: As written, this bill does not directly impact the Levees in Fort Bend County because they are locally owned and maintained. The main purpose of this bill is to protect federal investments by increasing design standards and reduce future flood loses when federal funds are used. Similar to the various EO in the past, the Coalition will need to continue to monitor how various agencies would incorporate these requirements in programs that would impact Coalition members. Potential programs include:
- Various Grant Programs such Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA), Individual Assistance (IA), Public Assistance (PA) involving new construction, substantial improvement and repairs to address substantial damage and CDBG
- USACE’s PL84-99
- Federal Permitting
- HUD Finical Assistance (2024-2025 Adoption that was Rescinded in EO 14148)
H.R. 9497 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2026
Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] (Introduced 06/29/2026)
Committees: Transportation and Infrastructure (Passed)
Senate Version: S.4949
Summary: The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and policy reforms related to flood risk management, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and water infrastructure. The bill includes provisions to improve permitting efficiency, strengthen levee programs, expand watershed assessments, support dredging activities, and authorize numerous feasibility studies and construction projects nationwide. It also promotes resilience measures, including coastal storm protection and nature-based infrastructure solutions. The legislation continues Congress's biennial authorization process for Corps civil works projects.
Current Status: 07/14/2026 – Passed by Committee
Coalition Impact: Since Levees in Fort Bend County are non-federal systems, WRDA generally has little impact on these systems. There are sections of H.R. 9497 to monitor that could have indirect, positive or negative, impacts.
- 104: Levee Owners Review Board - Creates an Owners Board that is composed of 11 members, each from a Federal levee system owner-operator, at least one representing the 8 USACE Divisions. The purpose of the Board is to develop recommendations regarding levee system reliability, flood risk management projects submitted to Congress, and the Corps’ levee safety program.
- Section 113: Levee Certifications - Requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct rulemaking that establishes a formal methodology for levee risk assessments used in levee certification decisions. As written, this section does not directly impact Fort Bend County Levees since each District certifies themselves as part of 44CFR65.10. Will have to monitor USACE’s rulemaking.
S.4949 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2026
Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (Introduced 07/13/2026)
Committees: Environment and Public Works.
House Version: H.R. 9497
Summary: The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and policy reforms related to flood risk management, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and water infrastructure. The bill includes provisions to improve permitting efficiency, strengthen levee programs, expand watershed assessments, support dredging activities, and authorize numerous feasibility studies and construction projects nationwide. It also promotes resilience measures, including coastal storm protection and nature-based infrastructure solutions. The legislation continues Congress's biennial authorization process for Corps civil works projects.
Current Status: 07/15/2026 – Passed by Committee
Coalition Impact: Since Levees in Fort Bend County are non-federal systems, WRDA generally has little impact on these systems. There are sections of H.R. 9497 to monitor that could have indirect, positive or negative, impacts.
- 1356: Levee Safety Initiative – Extends appropriations to carry out Levee Safety Initiative as outlined in WRDA 2007 through 2031.
H.R. 9511 NFIP Premium Transparency Act
Sponsor: Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (Introduced 06/29/2026)
Committees: Financial Services
Senate Version: None
Summary: Would require FEMA to make National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) premiums far more transparent by providing policyholders with detailed information about how their rates are calculated. Policy declaration pages would have to show current premiums, applicable discounts, claims history, flood-risk rating factors, estimated time to reach full risk-based rates, and available mitigation measures that could lower costs. The bill also requires FEMA to explain annual premium increase limits and disclose potential premium savings from risk-reduction actions. Its goal is to help homeowners better understand, anticipate, and potentially reduce their flood insurance costs.
Current Status: 06/29/2026 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Coalition Impact: This could provide more transparency and disclosure of flood risk drivers, rating factors and other important data and disclosures to policy holders.
S.3923 Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (Introduced 02/25/2026)
Committees: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
House Version: None
Summary: Reauthorize and expand NOAA weather research and forecasting programs to improve the accuracy and timeliness of weather predictions. The bill supports advancements in hurricane, tornado, tsunami, flood, heat, wildfire, and atmospheric river forecasting, while investing in next-generation weather models, radar systems, satellites, artificial intelligence, and computing capabilities. It also promotes partnerships with the private sector and expands the use of commercial weather data to strengthen forecasting services. The overall goal is to better protect lives, property, and economic activity from increasingly severe weather events.
Current Status: 03/04/2026 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Coalition Impact: Improvements to NOAA and the National Weather Service could enhance emergency planning and response for levee owners as well as residents throughout the US.
H.R.4669 FEMA Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] (Introduced 9/3/2025)
Committees: Transportation and Infrastructure (Passed)
Senate Version: Various In Direct Bills
Summary: H.R. 4669, the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025, is a bipartisan bill designed to modernize FEMA and reform federal disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation programs. A central provision would remove FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security and reestablish it as an independent, cabinet-level agency reporting directly to the President. The bill also seeks to streamline disaster assistance by reducing bureaucratic delays, improving coordination among federal agencies, simplifying damage assessments, and accelerating funding for communities recovering from disasters. In addition, the legislation includes reforms to public assistance and individual assistance programs, updates disaster declaration thresholds, addresses long-standing disaster recovery backlogs, and expands flexibility for states, local governments, and tribal nations. The act establishes new accountability measures, including an independent FEMA Inspector General and a Veterans Advocate office, while strengthening FEMA’s organizational structure and leadership requirements.
Current Status: 07/14/2026 – Passed by Committee
Coalition Impact: As written, this bill does not directly impact the Levees in Fort Bend County because they are locally owned and maintained. The Bill could make funding more easily available for FEMA mitigation and disaster recovery assistance. The bill does not fundamentally restructure or replace the NFIP. Instead, it transfers FEMA's existing flood insurance authorities to the newly independent, cabinet-level FEMA and preserves FEMA's responsibility for administering federal flood insurance programs. Indirectly, the bill could affect NFIP participants by expanding mitigation opportunities and improving flood-risk reduction efforts. Stronger mitigation investments, including improvements to levees and other flood-control projects, may help communities reduce flood risk and potentially improve their standing within FEMA floodplain management and insurance frameworks over time.