Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2026

This bill establishes a pilot program, to be administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), aimed at enhancing the mapping of urban flooding and associated property damage. The program will provide grants to eligible local governments to develop and make publicly available technology-based mapping tools that effectively convey urban flood risk information. These tools will include structure-specific projections, risk assessments, and program designs for mitigation, while also incorporating climate trends. The grants are available to units of general local government in urbanized areas with populations over 50,000, or their stormwater management authorities, but each entity can only receive a grant once. FEMA will select 12 recipients over the program's duration, categorized into three tiers based on population size and geographic characteristics. Priority will be given to applicants highly vulnerable to sea level rise, those with military installations, or communities with socioeconomically vulnerable populations and uneven flood mitigation capacity. Grant recipients must complete their activities within 18 months and report to FEMA on their progress and lessons learned. FEMA will then submit biennial reports to Congress and the public, detailing the program's effectiveness and offering recommendations for urban flooding mitigation. The bill authorizes $2 million for fiscal year 2027 and $5 million for fiscal year 2028, available through fiscal year 2030, to fund these initiatives. Congress emphasizes that successful mitigation efforts should focus on structural-based approaches, public education on flood-resilient construction, and encouraging homeowners to adopt these measures to proactively minimize future flood damage.