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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7862

Rep. Bentz Introduces Bill to Stop Endangered Species Rules From Affecting Flood Insurance

National Flood Insurance Program Clarification Act of 2026

17 days ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Legislative Progress

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Senate
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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.

    From policy text

    “Section 7(a) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)) shall not apply to any actions by the Administrator pursuant to sections 1305(c), 1306, 1360, 1361(c), 1363 of this title, and section 100216 of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.”
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  • 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.

    From policy text

    “the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries shall withdraw any existing biological opinions under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)) that evaluate the impacts of the national flood insurance program. Biological opinions withdrawn under this subsection shall have no effect and shall not be reissued.”
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  • 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.

    From policy text

    “is amended by inserting after ``local measures which'' the following: ``are for the sole purpose of protecting property and human health, and''”
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  • 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.
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Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Mar 9, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Mar 9, 2026

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

30 days after enactment

Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries must withdraw all biological opinions on the flood insurance program

Environmental reviews that currently shape how flood insurance interacts with endangered species protections would be permanently canceled within a month of the bill becoming law.

After enactment, as FEMA updates program requirements

Local floodplain management rules refocused solely on property and human health

Communities participating in the flood insurance program would no longer need to consider wildlife habitat in their local land-use rules, potentially opening up more areas for development.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

National Flood Insurance Program Clarification Act of 2026

Bill NumberHR 7862
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.