Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2025
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Would allow local governments receiving FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grants or revolving loans to adopt either of the two most recent editions of relevant building codes, rather than only the latest edition — giving communities more flexibility in code implementation.
The bill would also create a pilot program channeling FEMA pre-disaster grant money directly to individual homeowners for resilience retrofits such as tornado safe rooms, flood elevations, and wildfire hardening, with priority for financially needy residents.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would make two changes to federal pre-disaster hazard mitigation programs under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. First, it would redefine "latest published editions" of building codes, for purposes of both the BRIC grant program and the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund, to mean the two most recently published editions. This would let local governments qualify for or use FEMA funding by implementing either the current or the immediately preceding edition of a relevant consensus-based building code or standard.
Second, it would establish a residential resilience pilot program within the BRIC program. FEMA could use up to 10 percent of annual BRIC assistance to fund grants flowing from states and local governments to individual homeowners for retrofits — including flood elevation, floodproofing, tornado safe rooms, seismic upgrades, wildfire hardening, and wind resistance measures. States and localities would be required to prioritize financially needy individuals. The pilot program would have to launch within one year of enactment and would terminate on September 30, 2030. FEMA would submit a report to Congress no later than six years after enactment.
Key provisions
- 1Would redefine 'latest published editions' of building codes to mean the two most recently published editions, allowing use of either current or previous edition for BRIC grant eligibility.
- 2Would amend the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund program to allow loan funding for implementing either of the two most recently published building code editions, including government amendments to those codes.
- 3Would establish a residential resilience pilot program under BRIC enabling states and local governments to provide grants to individual homeowners for retrofits such as flood elevation, tornado safe rooms, seismic upgrades, and wildfire hardening.
- 4Would cap pilot program spending at 10 percent of annual BRIC assistance and require priority for financially needy individuals.
- 5Would require FEMA to submit a report to Congress within six years covering grant awards, retrofit outcomes, demographics, avoided disaster costs, and program challenges.
Who would be affected
Local governments and state agencies that apply for FEMA BRIC grants or Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund assistance, particularly those that have adopted the previous rather than the latest edition of a building code. Individual homeowners — especially lower-income residents — in areas at risk from natural hazards who could receive retrofit grants through state and local intermediaries under the new pilot program.
Why it matters
Communities that have not yet adopted the newest building code edition would no longer be shut out of FEMA mitigation funding, removing a compliance barrier that can slow adoption and leave localities without federal support. The pilot program creates a new direct-to-homeowner grant pathway that does not currently exist under BRIC, potentially reaching households that cannot afford resilience upgrades on their own.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5133 (Section 203) (Sec. 2)
Adds a definition making 'latest published editions' of building codes mean the two most recently published editions for BRIC grant purposes.
Amends Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5135(f) (Section 205) (Sec. 3)
Strikes paragraph (5) of subsection (f) and redesignates remaining paragraphs, modifying the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund program.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for FEMA to establish the residential resilience pilot program
- Residential resilience pilot program termination
- Report to Congress on pilot program outcomes due
Funding and costs
- not more than 10 percent of the assistance made available to applicants on an annual basis
Residential resilience retrofit pilot grants to individual homeowners through states and local governments under the BRIC program
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 501 would cost $300 million in discretionary spending subject to appropriation over the 2025–2035 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 501 would cost $190 million over the 2025–2030 period and an additional $110 million after 2030, for a total of $300 million over 2025–2035 in spending subject to appropriation (discretionary funds that Congress must separately authorize each year). The bill would authorize FEMA to run a pilot grant program — drawing up to 10 percent of its annual Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) set-asides, estimated at roughly $50 million per year — to help state and tribal governments reduce residential damage from flooding, wind, wildfire, and seismic events. The bill has no effect on direct (mandatory) spending or revenues, and CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
How implementation would work
FEMA's Administrator would define which projects qualify as "residential resilient retrofits" and establish the pilot program within one year of enactment. States and local governments receiving pilot funds would run grant processes for individual homeowners, with a financial-need priority requirement. The 10-percent cap on BRIC funds used for the pilot operates annually. FEMA would track participant demographics, retrofit types and costs, and estimated avoided federal disaster payments, then report all findings to Congress no later than six years after enactment. The rule-of-construction provision limits the bill's reach to the BRIC and revolving loan fund programs only.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 273.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill authorizes local governments to implement the previous edition of building codes with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) programs. It also establishes a pilot program for residential resilience retrofits under the BRIC program.
Under current law, local governments may use funding provided under the BRIC and Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF programs to establish and carry out the latest published editions of relevant building codes and standards. The bill allows local governments to use BRIC grant funding to carry out the latest two published editions (i.e., either the current edition of a building code or the previous edition) and requires BRIC to consider adoption of either of the latest two editions when determining whether to provide assistance. The bill also allows local governments to use loan funding from the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program for implementing the latest two published editions of building codes, including amendments government entities make to such codes.
Additionally, the bill establishes under the BRIC program a pilot program for states and local governments to provide grants to individuals for residential resilience retrofits (i.e., projects that increase a home’s resilience to natural hazards). To provide this assistance, FEMA may use up to 10% of the assistance made available to BRIC applicants annually. The pilot program terminates at the end of FY2028.
Legislative subjects
Emergency Management; Government lending and loan guarantees; Natural disasters
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-319