Bill Summary
This legislation proposes an amendment to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to include private flood insurance in the calculation of continuous coverage requirements. Specifically, it allows periods of coverage under private flood insurance policies to be recognized as valid for satisfying the continuous coverage criteria set by existing flood insurance regulations. This change aims to provide greater flexibility for property owners, ensuring that time spent under private insurance is acknowledged in compliance with federal flood insurance requirements, particularly those outlined in the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the proposed legislation to amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 could affect people:
1. **Increased Accessibility to Flood Insurance Options**: By allowing for the consideration of private flood insurance in continuous coverage requirements, property owners may have more options when choosing their flood insurance policies. This could lead to increased competition among insurers, potentially lowering premiums and making flood insurance more affordable for homeowners in flood-prone areas.
2. **Easier Compliance with Coverage Requirements**: The amendment would enable property owners who have previously held private flood insurance to count that coverage toward their continuous coverage requirements. This means individuals who may have switched from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to a private insurer will not face penalties or loss of coverage benefits, encouraging more people to seek out insurance options that best meet their needs.
3. **Potential for Improved Financial Stability**: Homeowners who maintain continuous coverage—whether through the NFIP or private insurance—could be better protected against financial losses from flood damage. This legislative change may encourage more property owners to secure flood insurance, leading to greater resilience in the face of natural disasters and reducing the economic burden on individuals and communities after flooding events.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6620 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6620
To amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to allow for the
consideration of private flood insurance for the purposes of applying
continuous coverage requirements, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 2025
Ms. Castor of Florida (for herself and Ms. Salazar) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial
Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to allow for the
consideration of private flood insurance for the purposes of applying
continuous coverage requirements, 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. EFFECT OF PRIVATE FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE ON CONTINUOUS
COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS.
Section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.
4015) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(n) Effect of Private Flood Insurance Coverage on Continuous
Coverage Requirements.--For purposes of applying any statutory,
regulatory, or administrative continuous coverage requirement,
including under section 1307(g)(1), the Administrator shall consider
any period during which a property was continuously covered by a flood
insurance policy, either offered through the national flood insurance
program or private market, that was used to satisfy the requirements
under section 102(a) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42
U.S.C. 4012a(a)) to be a period of continuous coverage.''.
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