Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2025
This bill amends the authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) programs regarding building codes, including authorizing funding to implement the two most recent editions of building codes, and establishes a pilot program for residential resilience retrofits under the BRIC program.
Under current law, funding provided under the BRIC and Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF programs may be used to establish and carry out the latest published editions of building codes and standards. The bill authorizes the BRIC program to fund carrying out the latest two published editions (i.e., either the current edition of a code or the previous edition) and requires BRIC to consider adoption of the latest two editions when determining whether to provide assistance. The bill also authorizes the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program to fund implementation of the latest two published editions of building codes and allows for jurisdictions to amend such codes.
Additionally, the bill establishes under the BRIC program a pilot program for states and local governments to provide grants to individuals for residential resilience retrofits (i.e., projects that increase a home’s resilience to natural hazards). To provide this assistance, FEMA may use up to 10 percent of the assistance made available to BRIC applicants annually. The pilot program terminates at the end of FY2028.