Flood insurance: Congress opens door to private coverage alternatives
H.R. 6620 — To amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to allow for the consideration of private flood insurance for the purposes of applying continuous coverage requirements, and for other purposes. · Filed by Kathy Castor (D-FL) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Dec 11, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends federal flood insurance law to count private flood insurance toward the federal government's continuous coverage requirement. Currently, only National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) coverage counts; this change allows property owners who maintained private flood insurance to satisfy federal continuity rules without gaps, making it easier to switch between private and federal coverage.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative effect is to expand the definition of qualifying continuous coverage to include private flood insurance, removing a regulatory barrier that favored the federal program. This is a technical amendment that increases consumer choice in the flood insurance market.
What the text implies
- May reduce NFIP enrollment and premium revenue if private insurers capture market share from homeowners previously locked into federal coverage by continuity rules.
- Could shift flood risk exposure from the federal government (NFIP) to private insurers, potentially concentrating catastrophic loss risk in the private market if major events occur.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
private flood insurance companies; property owners with private flood insurance