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Bill

A 9279

Enacts the climate accountability and loss recovery act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Phara Souffrant Forrest and 5 co-sponsors

Creates or expands state programs to recover from climate-disaster losses, delivering grants and loans to residents, small businesses, and local governments.

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Bill Summary · A 9279

Summary of Bill A 9279 — Relates to recovery for climate disaster losses

Basic bill information

  • Bill number: A 9279
  • Title: Relates to recovery for climate disaster losses
  • Status: REFERRED TO INSURANCE
  • Introduced: November 21, 2025
  • Classification: bill
  • Companion legislation: S 8585 (companion)

Note: The full text of the bill is not provided here. This summary reflects the bill’s title and status, and outlines the kinds of provisions typically associated with legislation addressing climate-disaster recovery. Details may change as the text advances through committee and the legislative process.

Purpose and intent (based on title)

  • The bill appears aimed at establishing or enhancing mechanisms to support recovery from losses caused by climate-related disasters (e.g., severe storms, floods, wildfires, and similar events).
  • Potential goals often include speeding assistance to affected residents and communities, improving resilience, and clarifying funding pathways for recovery activities.

Key provisions to expect (not yet confirmed in the text)

As the exact language is not available, potential areas commonly addressed in climate-disaster recovery bills may include:
- Definitions: What qualifies as a “climate disaster loss” and which entities are eligible (individual homeowners, small businesses, local governments, nonprofits).
- Recovery programs or funds: Establishment or expansion of a state program or fund to provide grants, low-interest loans, fee waivers, or other assistance.
- Eligibility criteria: Conditions for receiving relief (income limits, property type, degree of damage, restoration timelines).
- Funding sources: State appropriations, bonds, insurance-recovery mechanisms, or federal match requirements; any caps or annual limits.
- Application and appeals process: How applicants apply, what documentation is required, and rights to appeal decisions.
- Oversight and governance: Administrative structure, reporting requirements, performance metrics, and anti-fraud provisions.
- Coordination with existing programs: Interaction with state disaster-relief, housing, or insurance programs; referrals to federal programs (e.g., FEMA) where appropriate.
- Sunset and evaluation: Any sunset provisions or periodic reviews to assess effectiveness and adjust funding.

Affected parties

  • Individuals and households in climate-disaster-affected areas seeking relief.
  • Local governments and municipalities facing recovery costs.
  • Small businesses and nonprofits impacted by climate disasters.
  • Insurance regulators, insurers, and other financial service entities involved in disaster recovery.
  • State agencies administering climate, housing, and disaster-relief programs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Current stage: Referred to the Insurance committee, indicating initial consideration of how disaster-loss recovery interacts with insurance frameworks.
  • Next steps: Committee hearings, potential amendments, and moves to floor consideration in the House. If passed, a companion Senate bill (S 8585) would be considered in parallel or in sequence.

Related and companion legislation

  • S 8585 (companion) — appears to mirror or accompany A 9279. Tracking both bills is important for understanding overall legislative intent and potential agreement on provisions.

How to monitor and assess impact

  • Review the full bill text when available to confirm definitions, eligibility, funding, and timelines.
  • Monitor committee hearings and fiscal impact statements for cost estimates and implementation details.
  • Compare with the companion S 8585 to identify convergences or differences in approach.

If you’d like, I can update this summary with the actual bill text and provide a more precise list of provisions and fiscal impacts once the language is available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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