Signed by President Barack Obama II

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends certain flood insurance rates.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the risk premium rate for flood insurance for any property participating in the National Flood Insurance Program from being increased by more than 18 percent each year, except for certain properties including, but not limited to, the following properties (Sec. 5):
• A residential property that is not a primary residence;
• A business property; and
• A property that is covered by a policy which the policyholder has either decreased the amount of the deductible or increased the amount of coverage.   

• Prohibits the risk premium rate for flood insurance for any property in a single risk classification from being increased during a 12-month period by more than an average of 15 percent of the risk premium rates for properties within that risk classification (Sec. 5).

• Increases the risk premium rates for flood insurance for certain properties including, but not limited to, the following properties by 25 percent each year until the average risk premium rate is equal to the average of the risk premium rates for properties in a single risk classification (Sec. 5):
• A residential property that is not a primary residence;
• A business property; and
• A severe repetitive loss property.

• Requires the premium rate for flood insurance that is purchased after the enactment of this bill in an area not previously designated as having special flood hazards to be the “preferred risk premium” rate for the first policy year (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to refund premiums for flood insurance coverage collected in excess of the rates established in this bill (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Administrator to “strive” to minimize the number of policies with annual premiums that exceed 1 percent of the total coverage provided by a policy (Sec. 7).

• Requires the Administrator to collect and deposit into the National Flood Insurance Reserve Fund an annual surcharge for a policy issued or renewed after the enactment of this bill in the following amounts (Sec. 8):
• $25 for a residential property that is the primary residence of an individual; or
• $250 for a non-residential property or for a residential property that is not the primary residence of an individual.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends certain flood insurance rates.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the risk premium rate for flood insurance for any property participating in the National Flood Insurance Program from being increased by more than 18 percent each year, except for certain properties including, but not limited to, the following properties (Sec. 5):
• A residential property that is not a primary residence;
• A business property; and
• A property that is covered by a policy which the policyholder has either decreased the amount of the deductible or increased the amount of coverage.   

• Prohibits the risk premium rate for flood insurance for any property in a single risk classification from being increased during a 12-month period by more than an average of 15 percent of the risk premium rates for properties within that risk classification (Sec. 5).

• Increases the risk premium rates for flood insurance for certain properties including, but not limited to, the following properties by 25 percent each year until the average risk premium rate is equal to the average of the risk premium rates for properties in a single risk classification (Sec. 5):
• A residential property that is not a primary residence;
• A business property; and
• A severe repetitive loss property.

• Requires the premium rate for flood insurance that is purchased after the enactment of this bill in an area not previously designated as having special flood hazards to be the “preferred risk premium” rate for the first policy year (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to refund premiums for flood insurance coverage collected in excess of the rates established in this bill (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Administrator to “strive” to minimize the number of policies with annual premiums that exceed 1 percent of the total coverage provided by a policy (Sec. 7).

• Requires the Administrator to collect and deposit into the National Flood Insurance Reserve Fund an annual surcharge for a policy issued or renewed after the enactment of this bill in the following amounts (Sec. 8):
• $25 for a residential property that is the primary residence of an individual; or
• $250 for a non-residential property or for a residential property that is not the primary residence of an individual.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text