The Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026 establishes new standards for how federal agencies must account for flood risks when undertaking construction projects, managing federal property, and making decisions that affect floodplains. The bill requires agencies to use climate-informed science and updated elevation standards that add 2 to 3 additional feet to traditional flood levels—depending on whether a project is deemed critical—to account for current and future flood risks. All federal agencies must evaluate whether their projects fall within floodplain areas, consider alternatives to avoid building in flood-prone zones, and notify state and local governments of their plans, allowing time for public comment. The legislation also requires agencies to report to Congress within one year on how these requirements affect their operations, with ongoing evaluations every two years to assess effectiveness. The bill exempts emergency response efforts and national security projects from these requirements and does not provide new funding, instead directing existing federal resources to comply with these enhanced flood risk management standards.
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