WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) reintroduced the Flood History Information Act which would ensure that potential home buyers have access to a property’s flooding history prior to purchase. The lawmakers previously introduced the bipartisan bill in the 117th and 118th Congresses.
New home buyers and renters should have a right to know about their home’s flood history and risk. However, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 23 states still do not require a seller to disclose to a buyer whether a home has previously flooded. Furthermore, Urban flooding events have occurred in the U.S. once every 2-3 days for the past 25 years. Flooding has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $850 billion since 2000 and is responsible for two-thirds of the cost from all natural disasters.
“As the climate crisis exacerbates the intensity and frequency of severe weather, home buyers deserve to know the full extent of a property’s flood history, potential risk, and need for flood insurance,” Rep Dean said. “Hurricane Ida ravaged parts of my district, devastating and displacing families. And as communities everywhere confront the aftermath of natural disasters, transparency is crucial. I’m grateful for Congressman Garbarino’s continued partnership on this bipartisan bill.”
“Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions people make, and they deserve accurate information before they commit,” Rep. Garbarino said.“Too often, buyers don’t learn about a property’s flooding history until after the purchase, when the costs and risks become unavoidable. This bipartisan bill is about transparency, so people can make informed decisions and better understand their flood risk before it’s too late. I’m proud to work with Congresswoman Dean to bring more common sense and certainty to the flood insurance process.”
The Flood History Information Act requires FEMA to provide information on whether the property owner would need to purchase flood insurance due to previous federal disaster assistance. It would also require FEMA to provide information on the number and dollar value of flood insurance claims filed for a property over the life of the property. This bill would charge a fee for insurance companies to access the flood history database but would not charge a fee for buyers or current owners. The bipartisan legislation would apply to properties under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and to private insurance companies who choose to participate in the data sharing agreement with FEMA.
The Flood History Information Act is endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS.
“Realtors® thank Representatives Madeleine Dean and Andrew Garbarino for reintroducing the Flood History Information Act to provide critical transparency for homebuyers and renters particularly in high-risk zones. Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States, yet under current federal privacy law, FEMA cannot disclose NFIP claims history directly to prospective buyers or renters. As a result, consumers must rely on the current property owner to obtain this information during an already compressed real estate transaction timeline,” the National Association of REALTORS® said. “This legislation would allow flood claims history to be shared directly with buyers and renters upon request, giving consumers access to critical information earlier in the process and supporting more informed housing decisions. Realtors® support this bill and urge Congress to include these provisions in any long-term reauthorization or reform of the National Flood Insurance Program.”
Read the full text of the bill here.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
###
