Louisiana US House lawmakers introduce bill to stop flood insurance program lapses

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Some members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation introduced a bill to prevent future lapses in the National Flood Insurance Program’s authorization.

The National Flood Insurance Program Automatic Extension Act of 2025, introduced by several Louisiana lawmakers, including Reps. Julia Letlow, Troy Carter, Cleo Fields and Clay Higgins, aims to make sure that the program automatically continues some operations in the event of Congress missing a reauthorization deadline.

According to Letlow’s office, it would allow the program to continue issuing and renewing flood insurance policies, among other functions. The bill was brought after policyholders were impacted by the federal government shutdown.

“Louisianans know all too well the toll that dangerous flooding can take on homes, families, and communities,” Letlow said. “During the recent government shutdown, families were unable to renew or access new flood insurance policies – removing a valuable lifeline for so many people. Through the NFIP Automatic Extension Act, Congress can ensure that Washington drama doesn’t have real-world consequences for flood-prone communities in South Louisiana.”