Resilient Roofing Block Grant Act of 2025

Section 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the "Resilient Roofing Block Grant Act of 2025." Section 2. Findings and Purpose. Congress finds that the installation of disaster-resistant roofing systems reduces the need for federal disaster relief, affects interstate insurance markets, and relies on materials and labor that flow in interstate commerce. The purpose of this Act is to assist states in voluntarily promoting resilient roofing standards through block grants, thereby strengthening the national economy and reducing future federal disaster expenditures. Section 3. Block Grant Program. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), shall establish a competitive block grant program to provide funds to states for the purpose of providing grants to property owners for the installation of roofs meeting the industry-standard Fortified Roof designation (or equivalent). (b) Participation is voluntary. Any state may apply for a grant, and states shall have discretion to design their own grant programs, including eligibility criteria, cost-sharing requirements, and scope of coverage, as long as the funds are used exclusively for qualifying roof installations. (c) No state shall be required to adopt any building code or standard as a condition of receiving funds. Section 4. Funding. (a) There is authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 per fiscal year for each of the five fiscal years 2026–2030, to remain available until expended. (b) Funds shall be allocated to states based on a formula that considers population, historical disaster risk, and existing building stock. (c) States must provide a 25% match from non-federal sources, except that the Secretary may waive the match for states that have declared a major disaster in the preceding 24 months. Section 5. Oversight and Enforcement. (a) FEMA shall issue guidelines for state reporting, including annual reports on the number of roofs installed, funds disbursed, and estimated reduction in damage risk. (b) The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall audit a sample of state programs biennially. (c) Any state found to have misused funds shall be required to repay the amount and may be ineligible for future grants up to three years. Section 6. Sunset. This Act shall expire on September 30, 2030, unless reauthorized by Congress. Section 7. Effective Date. This Act shall take effect 90 days after enactment.