Summary of H.R. 7462: Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index Eligibility Act
Main Purpose and Intent
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to use certain data sets when determining eligibility for indemnity payments under the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index endorsement.
Key Provisions
- Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to use hurricane wind speed data from the National Hurricane Center and the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory when determining eligibility for indemnity payments under the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index endorsement.
- Specifies that the Secretary must use the highest wind speed measurement recorded within a 10-mile radius of the insured acreage when making eligibility determinations.
- Directs the Secretary to issue regulations to implement these new data source requirements within 180 days of the bill's enactment.
Affected Parties
This bill would impact farmers and agricultural producers who hold policies with the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index endorsement under the Federal Crop Insurance program. By mandating the use of specific hurricane wind speed data sources, it aims to ensure more accurate and consistent determinations of eligibility for indemnity payments following hurricane events.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 10, 2026 and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- If enacted, the Secretary of Agriculture would be required to issue implementing regulations within 180 days.
- The bill does not specify a sunset date or expiration, so the new data source requirements would remain in effect unless further amended or repealed by Congress.
