Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026

The Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to evaluate and manage flood risks when planning, building, or funding projects in floodplains. Under this law, agencies must use climate-informed science to determine flood zones and generally add a safety margin of two to three feet above standard flood levels to ensure structures remain safe over their intended lifetimes. The bill mandates that agencies consider nature-based solutions to avoid building in flood-prone areas, notify local governments and the public of proposed projects in these zones, and update their standards every five years based on new scientific data. Additionally, the act requires agencies to inform private parties about flood hazards before approving financial transactions for structures in at-risk areas and to report annually on how these new requirements affect their operations.