Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2026

This bill mandates the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a pilot program aimed at improving urban flood mapping and increasing data availability. The program will offer grants to units of local government to enhance the production of maps related to urban flooding and associated property damage. The primary objective is to empower homeowners, businesses, and local governments with better information to understand and mitigate their risks from urban flooding, which is defined as inundation in built environments caused by rainfall overwhelming drainage systems. Grant funds are intended for activities such as developing technology-based mapping tools for assessing urban flood risk, providing structure-specific flood frequency projections, and incorporating climate trends into risk assessments. All developed information must be made publicly available through a web-based portal to increase transparency regarding homeowner flood risks. Eligible recipients include units of general local government in urbanized areas with populations over 50,000, or their stormwater management authorities, with a total of 12 grants to be awarded over the program's duration, categorized by population size and coastal status. Priority will be given to applicants highly vulnerable to sea level rise, those with military installations, or communities with vulnerable populations and uneven flood mitigation capacity. The bill authorizes $7 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.