Senate amendment folds voluntary flood buyouts into community resilience grant program; TIF extension and reimbursements noted

The House Ways & Means Committee reviewed the Senate proposal of amendment to H.397 on changes tied to flood resilience and municipal finance, including adding voluntary buyouts for flood-impacted properties as an eligible use of funds under the Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Grant Program.

In opening remarks, Tucker Anderson, legislative counsel, told the committee: "You should have in front of you the senate proposal of amendment for h 3 97, which I will also share." Anderson said the Senate removed a standalone voluntary buyout program created in the House version and "instead added voluntary buyouts for flood impacted or flood prone properties as a use of the grant funds in the CRDMGP."

Why it matters: folding voluntary buyouts into the existing grant program changes where and how municipalities and property owners may apply for state support for property acquisition in flood-prone areas. The amendment also includes municipal finance changes—restoring a level…