S. 388 · On the floor · Emergency Management

Promoting Resilient Buildings Act

Sponsor: John Cornyn (R-TX)

What it does

• Expand FEMA predisaster mitigation assistance to cover building code adoption using either the current or previous two editions of published standards.
• Prohibit states and Indian tribal governments from using Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund loans for building code implementation or maintenance activities.
• Establish a pilot grant program for FEMA to fund residential resilience retrofits that reduce risk from local natural hazards, targeting individuals who demonstrate financial need.

Official summary

Promoting Resilient Buildings Act This bill increases flexibility for predisaster mitigation assistance for building code activities, prohibits using certain loan funds for building code activities, and establishes a pilot program to fund residential resilience retrofits. Under current law, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide predisaster hazard mitigation assistance to government entities for implementing the latest published editions of relevant building codes and standards. Also, FEMA must consider a government entity’s adoption of such building codes when determining whether to award it predisaster hazard mitigation assistance. The bill specifies that the building codes applicable in such instances are the two most recently published editions (i.e., either the current edition or the previous one). Also, currently, under FEMA's Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (STRLF) program, states and Indian tribal governments may provide loans to local governments for establishing and carrying out building codes and standards. The bill removes this authority, so STRLF loans may not be used for such building code-related activities. Additionally, the bill…

Latest action

Sep 15, 2026: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 616.

Committee: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs