FAIRNESS in Flood Insurance Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.6236 | Sponsor: Rep. Rosendale Sr., Matthew M. (R-MT)
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
Fixing Announcements for Intermittent Remapping and Notification Expectations to Stop Surprises in Flood Insurance Act of 2021 or the FAIRNESS in Flood Insurance Act of 2021
This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide notice through the mail to property owners of any revision or update to any floodplain areas and flood risk zones identified, delineated, or established under the National Flood Insurance Program for coverage and rate purposes. Specifically, such notice must be provided not less than 15 days before the remapping process begins. The bill also sets forth notification requirements regarding the remapping appeals process and the finalization of the remapping process.

To require the Administrator to provide certain notices to property 
 owners when undertaking remapping in geographic areas, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fixing Announcements for 
Intermittent Remapping and Notification Expectations to Stop Surprises 
in Flood Insurance Act of 2021'' or the ``FAIRNESS in Flood Insurance 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. MAPPING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 1360 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
4101) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Additional Mapping Notice Requirements.--
            ``(1) Notice of remapping.--If the Administrator seeks to 
        revise or update any floodplain areas and flood risk zones 
        identified, delineated, or established under this section, the 
        Administrator shall provide notice of such intended remapping, 
        not less than 15 days before such remapping process is to 
        begin, to each owner of a property in the geographic area being 
        remapped, including each owner of a property located in an area 
        within the geographic area being remapped that previously was 
        not designated as having special flood hazards.
            ``(2) Notice of remapping appeals process.--
                    ``(A) At the start of the appeals process.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After completing a 
                        revision or update of any floodplain areas and 
                        flood risk zones identified, delineated, or 
                        established under this section, and prior to 
                        the implementation of such revision or update, 
                        the Administrator shall, not later than 30 days 
                        before the date on which the appeals process 
                        begins, provide notice to each owner of a 
                        property in the geographic area being remapped, 
                        including each owner of a property located in 
                        an area within the geographic area being 
                        remapped that will be included in a special 
                        flood hazard area.
                            ``(ii) Contents.--The notice required under 
                        this subparagraph shall--
                                    ``(I) notify the property owner 
                                that the remapping process has been 
                                completed;
                                    ``(II) in the case of a property 
                                owner whose property is within a 
                                special flood hazard area, notify the 
                                property owner that flood insurance may 
                                be required and notify the property 
                                owner of the approximate cost of such 
                                flood insurance;
                                    ``(III) notify the property owner 
                                that the remapping appeals process has 
                                begun; and
                                    ``(IV) provide information to the 
                                property owner about the appeals 
                                process.
                    ``(B) At the end of the appeals process.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After completing a 
                        revision or update of any floodplain areas and 
                        flood risk zones identified, delineated, or 
                        established under this section, the 
                        Administrator shall, not later than 15 days 
                        after the conclusion of the appeals period, 
                        provide notice to each owner of a property in 
                        the geographic area being remapped, including 
                        each owner of a property located in an area 
                        within the geographic area being remapped that 
                        will be included in a special flood hazard 
                        area, that the remapping process has been 
                        completed and that the appeals process has 
                        concluded.
                            ``(ii) Contents.--The notice required under 
                        this subparagraph shall--
                                    ``(I) in the case of a property 
                                owner whose property is within a 
                                special flood hazard area, notify the 
                                property owner that flood insurance may 
                                be required and notify the property 
                                owner of the approximate cost of such 
                                flood insurance;
                                    ``(II) notify the property owner of 
                                the date on which the appeals process 
                                for the remapping concluded; and
                                    ``(III) inform the property owner 
                                about additional avenues for recourse, 
                                including letters of map amendment and 
                                letters of map revision.
            ``(3) Notice requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--With respect to any notice 
                requirement under this subsection, the Administrator 
                shall--
                            ``(i) provide notice by mail in the form of 
                        a letter; and
                            ``(ii) where possible, ensure that a 
                        reasonable attempt is made to send the letter 
                        to the mailing address of the owner of the 
                        property to which the notice relates if such 
                        address is different than the address of the 
                        property to which the notice relates.
                    ``(B) Contracting limitation.--The Administrator 
                may not contract with a State, Tribe, or any political 
                subdivision thereof, including a State department, 
                agency, or local government, to provide notices 
                required under this subsection.''.
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