The Pennsylvania Insurance commissioner, on behalf of the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force, has presented Gov. Josh Shapiro and the General Assembly with the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force Final Report, which includes recommendations designed to improve the affordability and accessibility of flood insurance, bolster flood resiliency, increase flood risk mitigation, and protect Pennsylvanians from incurring flood damage that often results in thousands of dollars of uncovered losses.
Gov. Shapiro signed House Bill 735 into law as Act 22 in November 2023 after it passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support, establishing the task force and directing it to study flood insurance issues and make recommendations to help improve affordability and expand access to flood insurance coverage for Pennsylvania communities. Act 22 charged the task force with delivering a report with its recommendations by July 1, 2024.
The report’s recommendations encompass key pillars of affordability, risk mitigation, incentives, and education and outreach. The task force is recommending:
• Establishing an Office of Community Rating System Assistance (CRSA) and expanding grant funding within the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
• Improving disclosures during the home-buying process.
• Incorporating continuing education credits across professional roles.
• Enhancing education and outreach.
• Incentivizing home mitigation through tax credits.
• Enhancing coverage for water damage.
• Incorporating flood resiliency into building codes.
• Proposing a Pennsylvania Flood Insurance Relief Act.
• Studying further innovative solutions.
The task force’s recommendations are informed by input gathered at five public meetings held over the last six months that included a public comment period, agency collaboration, external stakeholder engagement, and discussions and presentations from experts in the field.
As a strong supporter of this task force, I hope these plans are executed soon, so that we see less damage to Pennsylvanian’s homes from flooding in the near future.
Indoor Flooding in Bensalem