The SMART Act directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a comprehensive study evaluating how well its hazard mitigation programs work in reducing disaster costs, improving community preparedness, and protecting infrastructure across the United States. The study will analyze whether FEMA's mitigation investments actually save money in the long run by preventing or reducing losses from natural disasters, and will examine their effects on insurance availability and affordability. FEMA must submit an initial report to Congress within 18 months of the bill's enactment and then annually thereafter, using data from federal, state, local, and tribal agencies as well as independent researchers. Within two years, FEMA must publish the study's findings online in an accessible, searchable format with maps and visualizations, updated annually and available to the public within 60 days of each Congressional report. This legislation aims to increase transparency and provide evidence-based information about whether taxpayer dollars spent on disaster mitigation are achieving their intended results.
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