Doug LaMalfa (R-CA)
Flood Insurance for Farmers Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill is known as the Flood Insurance for Farmers Act of 2025. It aims to increase the availability of flood insurance for agricultural structures and for other purposes. The legislation allows state and local land use controls to grant certain variances for agricultural structures located in special flood hazards without penalizing the community. It sets specific requirements for these variances regarding new construction and existing structures. Additionally, the bill addresses premium rates for agricultural structures with variances and allows for optional umbrella policies for commercial, residential, and agricultural properties with multiple structures.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +8
Would farmers be better off under this?
Directly increases the availability of flood insurance and provides helpful variance options for agricultural structures.
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Significantly aids rural property owners and agricultural communities by easing flood insurance restrictions.
- Scored +6
Does this invest in rural communities?
Directly aids rural agricultural communities by making flood insurance and property variances more accessible.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2: This section allows state and local officials to grant variances from floodproofing or elevation requirements for agricultural structures in special flood hazard zones. This can benefit farmers by making it possible to obtain flood insurance without facing community suspension or probation under the national flood insurance program.
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Section 3: This section allows the Administrator to provide a single umbrella policy for commercial, residential, multifamily rental, and agricultural properties with multiple structures upon renewal or application. This benefits property owners by giving them the option to cover multiple structures under one policy.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2: This section places restrictions on when a variance can be granted, such as prohibiting them in designated regulatory floodways for new construction or if a structure has received more than one claim payment exceeding $1,000 within a 10-year period. These strict limits could prevent some farmers from qualifying for the variance they need.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — Directly increases the availability of flood insurance and provides helpful variance options for agricultural structures. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Significantly aids rural property owners and agricultural communities by easing flood insurance restrictions. Would business owners be better off under this? — Benefits commercial and property owners by permitting single umbrella policies for multiple structures.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Directly aids rural agricultural communities by making flood insurance and property variances more accessible. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Facilitates better structured flood insurance policies and disaster risk management for agricultural properties.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides agricultural businesses and property owners with beneficial insurance options and variance flexibilities. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill supports agricultural economic stability by improving access to flood insurance and property coverage options.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Allows state and local zoning authorities greater flexibility in granting variances for agricultural structures.
- 12/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/7/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
John GaramendiDemocrat · California
Josh HarderDemocrat · California
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado
David ValadaoRepublican · California