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HCR 11

Urging the Department of Homeland Security to expedite the approval of all FEMA applications for flood mitigation projects in Texas.

89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Introduced by Janie Lopez

Texas urges DHS to fast-track FEMA flood mitigation project approvals statewide, expressing legislative intent without creating binding requirements or funding guarantees.

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#disasterpreparedness&relief(i0211) #homelandsecurity #u.s.departmentof(v0595) #resolutions--legislativepolicy(i0685)
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Bill Summary · HCR 11

Legislative bill overview

HCR 11 is a concurrent resolution urging the Department of Homeland Security to accelerate its review and approval process for FEMA applications related to flood mitigation projects throughout Texas. The bill does not create binding law but rather expresses the legislative intent and requests federal agency action on pending applications.

Why is this important

Texas faces recurring and severe flooding that damages infrastructure, disrupts communities, and costs billions in recovery efforts. Expediting FEMA flood mitigation funding could accelerate protective infrastructure improvements like levees, drainage systems, and resilience projects that reduce future disaster losses and protect lives and property.

Potential points of contention

  • Federal-state dynamics: A non-binding resolution may have limited influence on federal agencies; DHS approval timelines are typically determined by federal regulations and resource capacity rather than state requests
  • Project merit and prioritization: Expedited approval could bypass rigorous vetting of project feasibility and cost-effectiveness, potentially directing federal funds to lower-priority or less viable initiatives
  • Equity concerns: Blanket expediting of all applications might benefit well-resourced jurisdictions with capacity to prepare robust applications over under-resourced communities that need more time to develop competitive proposals
  • Budgetary pressure: Accelerated approvals could increase federal expenditures and strain FEMA's budget allocation across all states competing for mitigation funding

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

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