[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3161 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3161
To make protection against damage and loss resulting from the erosion
and undermining of shorelines available under the National Flood
Insurance Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 1, 2025
Mr. Murphy (for himself, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr.
Rouzer, and Mr. Wittman) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To make protection against damage and loss resulting from the erosion
and undermining of shorelines available under the National Flood
Insurance Program, 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 ``Preventing Environmental Hazards Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR STRUCTURES ON LAND SUBJECT TO
IMMINENT COLLAPSE OR SUBSIDENCE.
(a) In General.--Section 1306 of the National Flood Insurance Act
of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4013) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
``(e) Erosion Coverage.--
``(1) In general.--If any structure covered by a contract
for flood insurance under this title and located on land that
is along the shore of a lake or other body of water is
condemned or deemed unsafe for habitation by a State or local
authority due to imminent collapse or subsidence as a result of
shoreline erosion or determined by a State or local authority
to be situated partially or wholly over water, a shoreline
bluff, or escarpment, or below Mean Higher High Water on tidal
waterbodies (regardless of whether as a result of long-term,
chronic erosion or as a result of waves or currents of water
exceeding anticipated cyclical levels), the Administrator shall
(following final determination by the Administrator that the
claim is in compliance with regulations developed pursuant to
paragraph (7)(A)) pay amounts under such flood insurance
contract for proper demolition or relocation as follows:
``(A) Demolition.--For proper demolition--
``(i) following final determination by the
Administrator, 40 percent of the value of the
structure; and
``(ii) following demolition of the
structure (including any septic containment
system) within 6 months of payment under clause
(i) and prior to collapse, the remaining 60
percent of the value of the structure or the
actual cost of demolition, whichever amount is
less.
``(B) Relocation.--For proper relocation (including
removal of any septic containment system) if the owner
chooses to relocate the structure, following final
determination by the Administrator, prior to collapse,
up to 40 percent of the value of the structure; except
that the total payment under this subparagraph shall
not exceed the actual cost of relocation.
``(2) Collapse or subsidence.--If any structure subject to
a final determination under paragraph (1) collapses or
subsides, or a period of six or more months elapses, before the
owner demolishes or relocates the structure and the
Administrator determines that the owner has failed to take
reasonable and prudent action to demolish or relocate the
structure, the Administrator shall not pay more than the amount
provided in paragraph (1)(A)(i) with respect to the structure.
``(3) Value of structure.--For purposes of paying flood
insurance pursuant to this subsection, the value of a structure
shall be whichever of the following is lowest:
``(A) The fair market value of a comparable
structure that is not subject to imminent collapse or
subsidence.
``(B) The price paid for the structure and any
improvement to the structure, as adjusted for inflation
in accordance with an index determined by the
Administrator to be appropriate.
``(C) The value of the structure under the flood
insurance contract issued pursuant to this title.
``(4) Coverage terms.--
``(A) Maximum claim.--Notwithstanding any provision
of this subsection, the amount paid under a flood
insurance contract in connection with any claim under
this subsection may not exceed the lesser of--
``(i) the amount of coverage under the
flood insurance contract for the structure; or
``(ii) $250,000.
``(B) Exclusion of loss of contents.--Flood
insurance coverage under this subsection shall not
cover any loss of or damage to any contents of a
structure.
``(5) Applicability.--
``(A) In general.--The provisions of this
subsection shall apply to contracts for flood insurance
under this title that are in effect on, or entered into
after, the date of the enactment of this subsection.
``(B) Coverage on certification date.--The
provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any
structure not subject to a contract for flood insurance
under this title on the date of a certification under
paragraph (1).
``(C) Period of coverage.--The provisions of this
subsection shall not apply to any structure unless the
structure is covered by a contract for flood insurance
under this title--
``(i) for a period of 12 months on or
before the date of the enactment of this Act;
or
``(ii) for a continuous period of 4 years
prior to certification under paragraph (1).
``(6) Termination of coverage.--For any structure that is
subject to a final determination under paragraph (1), no
subsequent flood insurance coverage under this title or
assistance under the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (except
emergency assistance essential to save lives and protect
property, public health and safety) shall be available for the
same structure, or a different structure on any remaining
portions of the parcel of land originally afforded assistance
under this subsection.
``(7) Regulations.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall
promulgate regulations and guidelines to implement this
subsection.
``(B) Applicability.--Prior to issuance of
regulations regarding the State and local
certifications pursuant to paragraph (1), all
provisions of this subsection shall apply to any
structure that--
``(i) otherwise meets the requirements of
this subsection; and
``(ii) is imminently threatened by
shoreline erosion, regardless of whether as a
result of long-term, chronic erosion or as a
result of waves or currents of water exceeding
anticipated cyclical levels.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall
become effective on the date of the enactment of this Act.
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