[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5229 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5229
To provide for improvements to National Flood Insurance Program rate
maps, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 9, 2025
Mr. Downing (for himself and Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial
Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for improvements to National Flood Insurance Program rate
maps, 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 ``Improvement of Mapping, Addresses,
Geography, Elevations, and Structures Act of 2025'' or the ``IMAGES Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL FLOOD MAPPING PROGRAM.
(a) Inclusion of Planimetric Features in Rate Maps.--Section
100216(b)(3) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012
(42 U.S.C. 4101b(b)(3)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) planimetric features, including, for each
planimetric feature--
``(i) the associated parcel identification
data for such planimetric feature; and
``(ii) to the maximum extent practicable,
using public and private sector address data,
the address of such planimetric feature.''.
(b) Format of Rate Maps.--Section 100216(c)(2) of the Biggert-
Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4101b(c)(2)) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) not later than 5 years after the date that
the National Geodetic Survey completes the National
Spatial Reference System 2022, updated to conform with
the geospatial data provided by such system; and
``(E) spatially accurate in accordance with the
common protocols for geographic information systems
under section 216 of the E-Government Act of 2002 (44
U.S.C. 3501 note).''.
(c) Additional Considerations.--Section 100216 of the Biggert-
Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4101b) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (k); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) Stream Flow Networks.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall coordinate with
the United States Geological Survey to ensure that, to the
extent necessary to maintain the stream flow networks critical
to the National Flood Insurance Program, flood risk mapping,
and flood risk assessments--
``(A) the stream gage stations in such stream flow
networks are operational and use modern hardware;
``(B) such stream flow networks are sufficiently
densified by adding new stream gage stations in high-
risk areas;
``(C) inactive critical stream gage stations in
such stream flow networks are reactivated; and
``(D) the speed of the geospatial real-time data
feeds from such stream gage stations is increased.
``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Stream flow network.--The term `stream flow
network' means a network of stream flow gages
maintained under the direction of the United States
Geological Survey and its partners that is used to
measure or record the flow of water down a stream or
river, or through an entire watershed system, and
transmit such information using a geospatial real-time
data feed.
``(B) Stream gage station.--The term `stream gage
station' means a device installed at the edge of a
river or stream that measures or records the flow of
water down the stream and additional information such
as water height, water chemistry, and water
temperature.
``(g) Availability of Data to Public.--The Administrator shall make
available to the public on the website of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency a national geospatial data repository that--
``(1) provides access to the raw data used to include the
planimetric features and parcel identification data in National
Flood Insurance Program rate maps;
``(2) to the extent that such data is available, allows
users to view, query, and obtain such data at multiple levels
of detail, including down to the property level;
``(3) allows users to view flood risks, flood insurance
zones, and flood elevations;
``(4) provides access to flood mapping and related
information such as--
``(A) hydrologic and hydraulic models used in
determining flood risk;
``(B) structure footprints where available;
``(C) flood depth grids;
``(D) flood risk reports;
``(E) flood risk assessments (Hazus analyses);
``(F) hazard mitigation plans; and
``(G) other flood risk products at the discretion
of the Administrator; and
``(5) maintains and disseminates such data in a consistent
manner.
``(h) Ensuring Current Data.--Not less frequently than once every 5
years, the Administrator shall verify that each National Flood
Insurance Program rate map contains data that is current and credible.
``(i) Qualifications-Based Selection Contracting.--
``(1) In general.--With respect to a contract awarded by
the Administrator under this Act, or by an entity receiving a
grant under this Act, for program management, architectural and
engineering services, or surveying and mapping, such a contract
shall be awarded to a contractor selected in accordance with
the procedures described in section 1103 of title 40, United
States Code (or an applicable equivalent State qualifications-
based statute). The Administrator, or entity, as the case may
be, shall require such contractor, as a condition of such
contract, to award any subcontract for program management,
architectural and engineering services, or surveying and
mapping in accordance with the procedures described in the
previous sentence, or the applicable equivalent State statute.
``(2) Relationship to state law.--Nothing in this
subsection shall supersede any applicable State licensing law
governing professional licensure.
``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Architectural and engineering services.--The
term `architectural and engineering services' has the
meaning given that term in section 1102 of title 40,
United States Code.
``(B) Surveying and mapping.--The term `surveying
and mapping' includes geospatial activities associated
with measuring, locating, and preparing maps, charts,
or other graphical or digital presentations depicting
natural and man-made physical features, phenomena, and
legal boundaries of the earth, including the following:
``(i) Topographic Engineering Surveying,
including acquisition of topographic oriented
surveying and mapping data for design,
construction, master planning, operations, as-
built conditions, precise structure stability
studies using conventional and electronic
instrumentation, photogrammetric, LiDAR, remote
sensing, inertial, satellite, and other manned
and unmanned survey methods as applicable.
``(ii) Hydrographic Engineering Surveying,
including acquisition of hydrographic oriented
surveying and mapping data for design,
construction, dredging, master planning,
operations, and as-built conditions using
conventional and electronic instrumentation,
and photogrammetric, remote sensing, inertial,
satellite, side scan sonar, subbottom
profiling, and other surveying methods, as
applicable.
``(iii) Land Surveying, including property
and boundary surveys, monumentation, marking
and posting, and preparation of tract
descriptions, using conventional, electronic
instrumentation, photogrammetric, inertial,
satellite, and other survey methods, as
applicable.
``(iv) Geodetic Surveying, including first-
, second-, and third-order horizontal and
vertical control surveys, geodetic astronomy,
gravity and magnetic surveys using
conventional, electronic instrumentation,
photogrammetric, inertial, satellite, and other
survey methods, as applicable.
``(v) Cartographic Surveying, including
acquisition of topographic and hydrographic
oriented surveying and mapping data for
construction of maps, charts, and similar
products for planning, flood analysis, and
general use purposes using conventional and
electronic instrumentation, photogrammetric,
inertial, satellite, mobile, terrestrial, and
other survey methods, as applicable.
``(vi) Mapping, charting, and related
geospatial database development, including the
design, compilation, digitizing, attributing,
scribing, drafting, printing and dissemination
of printed or digital map, chart, and related
geospatial database products associated with
planning, engineering, operations, and related
real estate activities using photogrammetric,
geographic information systems, and other
manual and computer assisted methods, as
applicable.
``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Planimetric feature.--The term `planimetric feature'
means the geographic elements and features--
``(A) that are independent of elevation, such as
roads, structure footprints, and rivers and lakes;
``(B) which are represented on maps to show the
true location and size of the elements in relationship
to each other, as they are seen from the air; and
``(C) that are mapped from LiDAR or aerial
photography by employing basic photogrammetry.
``(2) Parcel identification data.--The term `parcel
identification data' means the information associated with a
parcel of land, including the geographic location, unique
parcel identifier, boundaries, structures contained within the
parcel, zoning classification, and owner.''.
(d) Funding for Elevation Data.--Section 1310 of the National Flood
Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4017) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(g) Allocation From the National Flood Insurance Fund.--Each
fiscal quarter the Administrator shall allocate from the National Flood
Insurance Fund an amount equal to 5 percent of any revenue collected
under section 1308(b)(3) for use for creating or maintaining current
and accurate National Flood Insurance Program Rate Maps.''.
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