[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2428 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2428
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a
study regarding a Federal buyout program available to homeowners with
properties in high-risk catastrophic wildfire disaster areas, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 27, 2025
Ms. Friedman (for herself, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Mullin, and Mr.
Sherman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the
Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a
study regarding a Federal buyout program available to homeowners with
properties in high-risk catastrophic wildfire disaster areas, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wildfire Homeowner Relief Act''.
SEC. 2. GAO STUDY ON A FEDERAL BUYOUT PROGRAM FOR HIGH-RISK WILDFIRE
AREAS.
(a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study to analyze the feasibility of using Federal grant
programs to purchase property from homeowners, voluntarily selling such
properties, before and after a catastrophic wildfire disaster.
(b) Existing Covered Buyouts.--In conducting the study under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall compile recommendations
on--
(1) how to develop a national database on covered buyouts,
existing on the date of enactment of this Act, with information
on what grant program was used to purchase each respective
property under such buyouts, what entity is responsible for
maintaining such property, and any development on such property
following the covered buyout; and
(2) how the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the
Department of Housing and Urban Development can exchange
information about any covered buyout in process as of the date
of enactment of this Act.
(c) New Wildfire Buyout Program.--In conducting the study under
subsection (a) of this Act, the Comptroller General shall--
(1) analyze how a program for the buyout of properties
endangered or impacted by catastrophic wildfire disasters would
compare to covered buyout programs existing on the date of
enactment of this Act, including any floodplain disaster buyout
programs;
(2) provide recommendations on which department, agency, or
program should house a program for the buyout of properties
endangered or impacted by catastrophic wildfire disasters; and
(3) provide land use recommendations for properties after a
covered buyout, including--
(A) how to ensure specific purchases and future
land uses will reduce catastrophic wildfire risk, loss
of life, and loss of property during catastrophic
wildfires;
(B) how land use may be different for rural
compared to urban communities and for disadvantaged
compared to high-income communities;
(C) how to allow flexibility for communities to
decide how to use the land following a covered buyout;
and
(D) with respect to properties in high-risk areas
prior to catastrophic wildfire disaster and for
properties impacted after a catastrophic wildfire
disaster, eligibility requirements, including--
(i) recommendations for mapping which areas
are at the highest risk for catastrophic
wildfire; and
(ii) methodology for determining which
areas would be most effective for implementing
a Federal buyout program, including
consideration for where the greatest benefit
would be derived as a result of evacuating
individuals in efforts to avoid loss of life.
(d) Authority To Define Terms.--In conducting the study under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall develop definitions for
the terms ``development'', ``disadvantaged community'', ``high-income
community'', and ``catastrophic wildfire''.
(e) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report
identifying findings and conclusions, including--
(1) the results of the study conducted pursuant to
subsection (a);
(2) any recommendations made under subsection (b);
(3) recommendations on ways to incentivize participation in
the program described in subsection (c);
(4) analysis of the economic impacts of the program
described in subsection (c) and the cost of the program to the
Federal Government; and
(5) the definitions developed under subsection (d).
(f) Covered Buyout Defined.--In this Act, a ``covered buyout''
means a purchase of property by the Federal Government from a homeowner
who voluntarily sold such property because such property was recognized
by the Federal Government to be in an area endangered or impacted by a
catastrophic natural disaster.
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