National Flood Insurance Program Clarification Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill would exempt key actions under the National Flood Insurance Program from Endangered Species Act review requirements. Federal agencies would no longer need to consult wildlife experts before updating flood maps, setting insurance rates, or making other program decisions.
• Within 30 days of enactment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries would be required to permanently withdraw all existing biological opinions that evaluate the flood insurance program's impact on endangered species. These opinions could never be reissued.
• The bill narrows the purpose of local land management rules that communities must follow to participate in the flood insurance program. Going forward, those rules must focus solely on protecting property and human health, removing any environmental or habitat protection goals.
• By removing the need for environmental review, the bill could speed up updates to flood maps and insurance rate changes. However, it also eliminates a safeguard that currently prevents flood insurance policies from encouraging development in areas critical for endangered species.