Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2025 (H.R. 1245)

Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2025

This bill establishes a unified application system for disaster assistance, expands disaster assistance for individuals and households, and requires related studies and reporting.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must establish an interagency electronic information sharing system known as the unified disaster application system to carry out disaster assistance, including administration of a universal application for federal disaster assistance for individuals.

The bill expands FEMA's assistance to individuals and households by (1) changing the eligibility standard for housing assistance from residences rendered uninhabitable to residences damaged by a disaster, (2) allowing direct (i.e., non-financial) assistance for home repair and hazard mitigation for residences, and (3) allowing hazard mitigation assistance for residences separate from assistance for home repairs.

FEMA may (1) provide funding for state agencies to establish websites to provide information on post-disaster recovery resources; and (2) reimburse state, tribal, or local governments for certain costs relating to sheltering emergency response personnel.

The bill extends FEMA's authority to implement state-managed housing assistance as a pilot program.

FEMA must establish an online dashboard displaying certain information relating to the Individual Assistance program for each major disaster declaration.

FEMA must also conduct a study and report to Congress on challenges for renters seeking disaster assistance.

The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) identity theft and fraud in federal disaster assistance, (2) preliminary damage assessment practices under the Individual Assistance program, and (3) challenges in obtaining assistance under Public Assistance alternative procedures.