Senate committee trims H.106 to require sellers to give buyers FEMA flood map copy or link; agrees on short intent language

The Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs committee on Tuesday considered a committee amendment to H.106 that would require sellers of real property to provide prospective buyers with a physical copy or an electronic copy or link to the official Federal Emergency Management Agency flood insurance rate map for the community containing the property.

The committee’s Office of Legislative Counsel, represented by Cameron Wood, presented the draft strike-all amendment and told members, "the seller shall provide the buyer with a physical or electronic copy of the official flood insurance rate map as published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency." Wood also cautioned that if the bill is applied prospectively only, "I don't think you need a binding section," urging members to treat any findings carefully because the office cannot attest to unverified factual claims.

The amendment keeps a seller disclosure requirement that the seller tell a buyer whether the property experienced flood damage while the seller possessed it and whether the seller…