H.R. 437 — SNOW Act of 2025

This section expands eligibility for federal disaster assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for winter storms (defined as a combination of heavy snow, blowing snow, or dangerous wind chills, as determined by the FEMA Administrator) by (1) authorizing recipients of hazard mitigation assistance under sections 404 and 203 to use funds for risk-reduction activities in winter storm-affected areas, including acquiring snow-removal equipment; (2) directing the FEMA Administrator to establish by regulation a process to waive the snowfall methodology and statewide damages requirements for major disaster declarations when at least two of the following conditions are met for an affected state response zone or region: (a) the state emergency management agency determines damages exceed the state's disaster declaration threshold, (b) the National Weather Service confirms wind speeds exceeding 58 miles per hour with wind chill below 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lake-effect snow conditions for over 24 hours, or (c) the Census Bureau confirms the area's real median household income is below the national median or it is a non-urban area; and (3) requiring FEMA regulations to provide assistance under specified sections—including for debris removal (sec. 402), emergency protective measures (secs. 403 and 503), repair of public roads and bridges (sec. 406), water control facilities (sec. 407), public buildings (sec. 406), public utilities (sec. 406), parks and recreational facilities (sec. 406), and other categories (secs. 418, 419, and 421(d))—and under individual and family assistance (secs. 408 and 503) when a state emergency management agency determines the incident exceeds state or local capacity. (Thus, these changes facilitate federal support for winter storm response and recovery, which previously faced barriers under major disaster eligibility criteria primarily geared toward other natural catastrophes.)

This section increases the minimum federal share of eligible costs under specified Stafford Act provisions to not less than 90 percent (from 75 percent) in rural or disadvantaged areas—defined in new section 403(e) as areas with real median household income below the national median or that are not urban areas—specifically: (1) for essential assistance under section 403; (3) for debris and wreckage removal under section 407; and (4) for fire management assistance under section 503; and (2) authorizes the President to contribute up to 90 percent for hazard mitigation under section 404 in such areas (subject to caps limiting total contributions to 15 percent of estimated aggregate grants up to $2 billion, 10 percent for grants over $2 billion to $10 billion, and 7.5 percent for grants over $10 billion to $35.333 billion).