Promoting Resilient Buildings Act
Latest action (6 Aug 2026): Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
What this bill does
S. 388, the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act, would amend the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act's predisaster hazard mitigation program. It clarifies definitions around "latest published editions" of building codes and standards, and directs FEMA to establish a new Residential Retrofit and Resilience Pilot Program that provides grants—through states and local governments—to individual homeowners for resilience upgrades such as home elevation, floodproofing, tornado safe rooms, seismic retrofits, wildfire mitigation, and wind/roof retrofits. It also removes an existing paragraph from the hazard mitigation revolving loan fund provisions.
The bill mainly affects FEMA, state and local governments that administer disaster mitigation grants, and homeowners applying for retrofit assistance—priority would go to applicants demonstrating financial need. The pilot program could use up to 10% of annual funds otherwise available under the existing predisaster mitigation program, must be established within a year of enactment, and would run through September 30, 2030, with a report to Congress due four years after enactment.
Sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) with Sen. Fetterman as a cosponsor, the bill was introduced February 4, 2025, and referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. As of August 6, 2026, the committee ordered it reported favorably with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, meaning it is now positioned for potential consideration by the full Senate.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
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 establishes a pilot program for FEMA to provide grants to government entities that then provide the funding to individuals for residential resilience retrofits. The retrofit projects must reduce risk to homes from local natural hazards and individuals must demonstrate financial need. To implement the pilot program, FEMA may use up to 10% of the funds FEMA provides annually for predisaster hazard mitigation assistance. The pilot program terminates at the end of FY2030.
Timeline
6 Aug 2026
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 388 do?
- S. 388, the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act, would amend the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act's predisaster hazard mitigation program. It clarifies definitions around "latest published editions" of building codes and standards, and directs FEMA to establish a new Residential Retrofit and Resilience Pilot Program that provides grants—through states and local governments—to individual homeowners for resilience upgrades such as home elevation, floodproofing, tornado safe rooms, seismic retrofits, wildfire mitigation, and wind/roof retrofits. It also removes an existing paragraph from the hazard mitigation revolving loan fund provisions. The bill mainly affects FEMA, state and local governments that administer disaster mitigation grants, and homeowners applying for retrofit assistance—priority would go to applicants demonstrating financial need. The pilot program could use up to 10% of annual funds otherwise available under the existing predisaster mitigation program, must be established within a year of enactment, and would run through September 30, 2030, with a report to Congress due four years after enactment. Sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) with Sen. Fetterman as a cosponsor, the bill was introduced February 4, 2025, and referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. As of August 6, 2026, the committee ordered it reported favorably with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, meaning it is now positioned for potential consideration by the full Senate.
- Has S. 388 become law?
- Not yet. As of 6 Aug 2026, S. 388 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 388?
- S. 388 was sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn [R-TX] (Republican-TX), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 388?
- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (6 Aug 2026).
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