Summary#
This bill would create a federal program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (the Administrator) to give money to States to set up STORM FORTIFIED Roof revolving loan funds. States would use those funds to make loans to State agencies and to run homeowner grant programs that pay for upgrades to meet "FORTIFIED Roof," "FORTIFIED Home," or "Wildfire Prepared Home" standards. The bill defines those standards (referencing the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety or equivalent science-based standards), sets eligibility rules, and requires monitoring, audits, and use of FEMA GO for applications and recordkeeping.
What it means for you#
- Homeowners: If you own and live in your house and it meets State eligibility rules, you could apply for a grant to pay for upgrades that earn a FORTIFIED or Wildfire Prepared designation. Grants may cover work up to a State-set cap, which may not exceed $10,000 per project. You must generally show primary residency and, where required, proof of wind, flood, or fire insurance through project completion. New construction, condominiums, and mobile homes are not eligible. Households with income below 120% of the area median income would have loan repayment or cost-share obligations forgiven for grants.
- State agencies: A State that accepts a capitalization grant must create and manage a revolving loan fund, deposit at least 35% of the capitalization grant amount as the State share, prepare annual intended-use plans with public comment, use FEMA GO for applications/closeouts, and perform biennial audits and reports. States may prioritize lower-income applicants and areas at higher risk of catastrophic weather.
- Contractors and evaluators: Grants require work by qualified contractors and verification by qualified evaluators under the applicable FORTIFIED or Wildfire standards.
Expenses#
- Authorized appropriations: $100,000,000 per fiscal year for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2036, to remain available until expended.
- Grants to homeowners: State agencies may set a cap per project that cannot exceed $10,000.
- State cost share: Participating States must deposit not less than 35% of the capitalization grant into their entity loan fund. If they deposit less, the Federal grant amount is reduced so the deposit equals 35% of the new grant.
- Fund administrative caps: Administrative costs charged to the fund may not exceed $100,000 per year, 2% of capitalization grants in a fiscal year, or 1% of the fund value, whichever is greatest, plus any fees collected for administration.
- Set-aside: FEMA may reserve up to 3% of funds for technical assistance, guidance updates, data systems (including FEMA GO), and oversight.
- Loan terms: Loans from entity funds to State agencies must have interest rates of not more than 1% and be amortized so repayments begin no later than 1 year after project completion and finish within 20 years (or up to 30 years for projects in low-income geographic areas, but not beyond project design life).
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.