Bill · S. 4515· Senate(119-S-4515)
Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 5/13/2026
- Last activity
- 5/13/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S2280-2281)
- Sponsored by
- Richard Durbin
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the "Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2026." It directs the FEMA Administrator to implement a pilot program that provides grants to local governments to improve urban flooding maps and data. The program focuses on creating technology-based mapping tools that show specific flood risks and annual frequency. These tools are intended to be made available to homeowners, businesses, and local governments through a web-based portal. The goal is to help these entities understand and mitigate the risks of urban flooding.
Yes· 3 of 10
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+5
The bill requires flood risk data to be made publicly available via a web-based portal to increase transparency.
Would people in cities be better off under this?+4
The bill specifically targets urbanized areas to improve their ability to map and mitigate flooding risks.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+3
The bill incorporates climate trends into urban flooding risk assessments to better manage environmental threats.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency and Risk Awareness: The bill aims to make flood information publicly available on the internet through a web-sited portal to increase transparency regarding homeowner flood risks (Section 2(c)(6)).
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Better Flood Risk Assessment: The program seeks to provide structure-specific projections of annual flood frequency and structure-based assessments (Section 2(c)(2) and (3)).
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Improved Mitigation Planning: Grants can be used to provide program designs for mitigating the risk of urban flooding (Section 2(c)(4)).
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Climate Trend Integration: The mapping tools are intended to incorporate information regarding climate trends into urban flooding risk assessments (Section 2(c)(5)).
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Targeted Support for Vulnerable Areas: Priority is given to applicants in areas highly vulnerable to sea level rise, locations with military or national security installations, and populations highly vulnerable to urban flooding due to socioeconomic factors (Section 2(g)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Scope of Recipients: Grants are only available to units of general local government in urbanized areas with populations of more than 50,000, or their stormwater management authorities (Section 2(d)(1)).
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Limited Participation Opportunities: The pilot program is restricted to a total of 12 units of local government or stormwater management authorities over the entire duration of the program (Section 2(f)(2)).
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Financial Burden on Localities: The federal government will not cover all costs, as the grant amount may not exceed 75 percent of the total cost incurred for the activities (Section 2(h)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Urban Residents+4Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Middle Class Households+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+3Improves Public Transit+1
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Affordable Housing+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+1
- 5/13/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S2280-2281)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois