# Plain Language Summary: Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2024

When disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods hit, communities need to rebuild. This bill makes changes to how the federal government helps with that rebuilding process, specifically focusing on building codes—the safety rules that determine how structures should be constructed to withstand disasters.

The bill makes two main changes to federal disaster recovery programs. First, it removes a restriction that was preventing communities from fully using federal money for hazard mitigation projects (the work done to reduce future disaster damage). Second, it updates the rules for a federal loan program that helps communities invest in disaster-resistant building improvements. Instead of just "establishing" new building codes after a disaster, the law now requires communities to "implement" the latest building codes—meaning they actually have to follow them. This is important because it ensures that when buildings are rebuilt or repaired with federal disaster assistance, they're built to current safety standards rather than older, less protective ones.

The practical effect is that communities recovering from disasters will be required to use more up-to-date building standards that better protect against future damage. This could mean stronger roofs, better flood protection, or more earthquake-resistant construction, depending on the local hazards. While this might increase rebuilding costs in the short term, the goal is to reduce damage and costs from future disasters. The bill also recognizes that states, local governments, and tribal nations sometimes update building codes themselves, so it makes sure those local improvements are included in the requirements.

Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2024

Edwards, Chuck

Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2023 This bill modifies two Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster preparedness and mitigation programs to allow grants to be used to implement the two latest published editions of building codes instead of only the latest edition. Specifically, the bill allows (1) grants under the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program to continue to be used to implement the two latest editions indefinitely; and (2) capitalization grants under the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program to be used to implement the two latest editions instead of only the latest edition.