Ezell Introduces Bill to Restore Flood Insurance Coverage for Homeowners Impacted by Shutdown

Congressman Mike Ezell (MS-04) today introduced the NFIP Retroactive Renewal and Reauthorization Act, legislation to immediately restore the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and ensure that those who plan to renew are not punished due to the Democrat-led government shutdown.

Because of the ongoing shutdown, NFIP has lapsed - meaning no new flood insurance policies can be issued or renewed. Now that the short grace period has expired, thousands of homeowners could face partial-risk assessments and higher rates unless Congress passes a retroactive extension.

This lapse threatens tens of thousands of Mississippi families, delays home closings, and leaves homeowners uninsured in the middle of hurricane season. It also punishes families already struggling with rising premiums, potentially wiping out years of progress toward affordable coverage.

Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, many policyholders aren't yet paying full-risk rates. Without a retroactive renewal, those partial-risk protections could be lost - forcing families to start over at drastically higher prices.

"This shutdown is hurting real people - and coastal families are feeling it first," Ezell said. "Because Washington Democrats refuse to do their job, Mississippi homeowners can't renew their flood insurance policies, and families trying to buy or refinance a home are being left in limbo. My bill will fix that by restoring coverage retroactively and protecting families from the fallout of this political dysfunction. Mississippians shouldn't lose their insurance or face higher costs because of a political stalemate in Washington. It's time to reopen the government, restore flood coverage, and deliver the certainty our coastal communities deserve."

"As CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, I cannot overstate the urgency of extending the National Flood Insurance Program. Right now, thousands of families in Southeast Louisiana are on the brink of losing affordable flood coverage due to the government shutdown and the harsh realities of Risk Rating 2.0. If Congress does not act immediately, homeowners and small businesses will be forced into unaffordable premiums, putting their homes, livelihoods, and our entire region at risk. This bill is not just necessary-it is critical to prevent a wave of financial devastation and to preserve the resilience of our communities. We urge swift passage to protect Louisiana families before it's too late," Dan Mills, CEO of Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, said.

"The National Flood Insurance Program is a critical lifeline for American households to avoid economic ruin from flooding disasters. The private flood insurance industry may hold promise, but it is nowhere near ready to come close to providing the level of security the NFIP provides. It is imperative that the program be re-authorized and retroactively available to those whose policies lapsed during the shutdown so they don't end up re-rated and priced out of this important protection," Amy Bach, Executive Director, United Policyholders.

"The federal government shutdown has stopped purchases and renewals of all flood insurance policies through the NFIP. This has a far-reaching impact on many facets of the American economy, not just compromising the safety net of flood insurance, but also impacting real estate closings & risk management strategies. Now more than ever, American families are reliant on the protection offered by a strong, resilient National Flood Insurance Program. The American Policyholder Association strongly encourages the passage of the NFIP Renewal and re-authorization Act," Doug Quinn

Executive Director, American Policyholder Association said.

Background:

Across the country, FEMA is barred from processing renewals or issuing new NFIP policies until the government reopens. In Mississippi alone, there are more than 55,000 active NFIP policies covering over $13 billion in property value - coverage that families and small businesses depend on to recover from storms and flooding.

Ezell's legislation would reauthorize the NFIP through December 31, 2026, and include a retroactive renewal period to ensure families whose coverage expired during the shutdown can renew without penalty once the government reopens.

The legislation also renews the program through 2026 to provide long-term stability and ensure continued congressional oversight of FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 system - a controversial pricing model that has driven up premiums and reduced affordability for thousands of Gulf Coast homeowners.

Ezell serves as Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Flood Resilience Caucus and continues to advocate for common-sense, bipartisan reforms to strengthen and sustain the NFIP for Mississippi and other flood-prone communities.