2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26102601D

HOUSE BILL NO. 214

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 7, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-984.1, relating to localities; Home Flood Protection Assistance Program.

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Patron—Feggans

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Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-984.1 as follows:

§ 15.2-984.1. Home Flood Protection Assistance Program.

A. For the purposes of this section:

"Department" means the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

"Program" means a Home Flood Protection Assistance Program established pursuant to subsection B.

"Stormwater extension program" means a program operated by a locality designed to empower households with the tools, knowledge, and skills to mitigate flooding on private property that is (i) outside of the right-of-way and (ii) not within the scope of authority of a local department of public works.

B. A locality may by ordinance establish a Home Flood Protection Assistance Program to provide financial assistance to households to install temporary home flood exclusion tools at vulnerable entry points. Such financial assistance shall be limited to no more than $3,000 per household and may be provided in the form of advanced payment or reimbursement of costs. A household shall only be eligible to receive funds from a Program after such household has (i) completed a stormwater extension program or local floodplain review, including an on-site assessment by the locality; (ii) completed all required or recommended passive or structural flood mitigation measures, including drainage improvements, minor property regrading, cleaning of ditches, installation of French drains, and downspout reconfiguration; and (iii) received verification from the locality that no further feasible passive or structural flood mitigation measures remain. A locality may utilize funds from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund established in § 10.1-603.29 in administering a Program.

C. The Department shall establish and maintain uniform product performance verification standards for home flood exclusion tools to ensure safety, durability, and proper deployment of such tools. A Program shall provide financial assistance to households only for temporary home flood exclusion tools so verified by the Department, including modular door barriers, temporary flood dams, water-inflated or self-activating barriers, garage-entry flood shields, portable sump pump systems with barriers, and similar protective tools. Such tools shall not include any permanent structural flood proofing tools that would necessitate Federal Emergency Management Agency flood proofing certification requirements.

D. A locality establishing a Program pursuant to this section may partner with locality-authorized nonprofit resilience organizations to assist in identifying households eligible for such Program, installing temporary home flood exclusion tools verified by the Department pursuant to subsection C, training households on the proper deployment of such tools, and tracking the performance and effectiveness of such tools.