This bill makes it easier for the federal government to help communities prepare for natural disasters by updating their building codes and protecting homes from damage. Right now, FEMA can give money to local governments to adopt the latest building safety codes, but the rules are strict about which versions count. This bill loosens those rules so communities can use either the current building code or the most recent previous version—giving them more flexibility in how they prepare.

At the same time, the bill stops allowing states to use a specific federal loan program (called the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund) to help local governments pay for building code updates. Instead of loans, the bill creates a new grant program where FEMA gives money directly to local governments, which then pass it along to homeowners who need to make their houses more resilient to natural disasters—like reinforcing roofs, upgrading foundations, or improving drainage. To qualify, homeowners have to show they need financial help. This new program will run through 2030 and can use up to 10% of FEMA's annual disaster prevention budget, meaning it won't compete heavily with other emergency preparedness efforts.

Promoting Resilient Buildings Act

Cornyn, John

Promoting Resilient Buildings ActThis bill increases flexibility for predisaster mitigation assistance for building code activities, prohibits using certain&nbsp;loan funds for building code activities, and establishes a pilot program to fund residential resilience retrofits.Under current law,&nbsp;the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide predisaster hazard mitigation assistance to government entities for implementing the latest published editions of relevant building codes and standards. Also,&nbsp;FEMA must consider a government entity’s adoption of such building codes when determining whether to award it predisaster hazard mitigation assistance. The bill specifies that the building codes applicable in such instances are the two most recently published editions (i.e., either the current edition or the previous one).Also, currently, under FEMA's Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (STRLF) program, states and Indian tribal governments may provide loans to local governments for establishing and carrying out building codes and standards. The bill removes this authority, so&nbsp;STRLF loans may not be used for such building code-related activities.Additionally, the bill establishes a pilot program for FEMA to provide grants to government entities that then provide the funding to individuals for residential resilience retrofits. The retrofit projects must reduce risk to homes from local natural hazards and individuals must demonstrate financial need. To implement the pilot program,&nbsp;FEMA may use up to 10% of the funds FEMA provides annually for&nbsp;predisaster hazard mitigation assistance. The pilot program terminates at the end of FY2030.&nbsp;