Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill creates a federal standard requiring all agencies to evaluate flood risk before building or funding projects, using the latest climate science. If climate data is not available, agencies must build at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation for regular projects and 3 feet for critical ones.
• Agencies must avoid building in floodplains whenever possible and prioritize natural solutions like wetlands or ecosystem-based approaches to manage water. If building in a floodplain is unavoidable, they must notify state, local, and tribal governments and allow public comment.
• When the government sells or leases federal property in a floodplain, it must disclose flood risks and attach restrictions on future use. Public buildings that have been flooded or sit in flood hazard areas must display markers showing past and probable flood heights.
• The Water Resources Council must update the flood risk management standard at least every 5 years, and a leadership group must reassess implementation annually using the best available science on climate change and flood risk.
• The bill applies to any project that uses federal funds for new construction, substantial improvements, or addressing substantial damage. National security and emergency projects can be exempted, but emergency exemptions must be published with supporting facts in the Federal Register.