Disaster survivors get one form, not ten—and FEMA must protect their data.

What it does

This bill creates a single unified online application system for federal disaster assistance, allowing survivors to apply for multiple forms of aid (housing, business loans, food benefits, etc.) in one place instead of navigating separate agencies. It requires FEMA to coordinate with other federal agencies, streamline information-sharing among them, and establish data security and privacy protections—including rules for how agencies handle and protect survivor data, with 24-hour breach notification requirements.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core mechanism is establishing a unified intake system for federal disaster assistance with explicit data security, privacy impact assessment, and breach notification requirements. It is fundamentally a public-service modernization and consumer-protection measure.

What the text implies

• The bill grants FEMA broad authority to waive Paperwork Reduction Act requirements during declared disasters, potentially reducing public comment periods on new data collection—though transparency and sunset provisions are built in.
• Publication of a privacy notice on a public website is deemed to satisfy Privacy Act notice requirements for the entire duration of disaster assistance, which may limit individual notice rights compared to traditional Privacy Act procedures.
• Disaster assistance agencies assume liability for breaches caused by their own acts or omissions, creating financial incentive for security but potentially shifting costs to agencies rather than holding individuals accountable.
• The unified system may enable cross-agency data matching that, while intended to detect fraud, could also identify undocumented immigrants or other vulnerable populations to law enforcement if data-sharing agreements are later expanded.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Disaster survivors face lower application burden, faster aid delivery, and explicit privacy protections including breach notification and data security standards. The bill does not restrict survivor rights or remedies; it expands access and transparency. The unified system is designed to reduce fraud and waste while protecting personal information.

Named in the bill

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture (SNAP/food benefits), State and local governments, Indian tribal governments, Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Where it stands

5 cosponsors: 5 Republicans.

• Mar 5, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Mar 5, 2025 — Referred to Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs”
• Jul 30, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably”
• Dec 16, 2025 — Passed the Senate · Congress.gov: “Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8763-8764; text: CR S8763-8764)”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

1 lobbying clients named this bill on 2 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $150,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 10 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 0% of bills with at least one filing.

Gary Peters, the sponsor, reported $-186,100 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• American Flood Coalition Action, Inc. — $150,000 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 14, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.