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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3497 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3497
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit against
tax for disaster mitigation expenditures.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 16, 2025
Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit against
tax for disaster mitigation expenditures.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Shelter Act''.
SEC. 2. NONREFUNDABLE PERSONAL CREDIT FOR DISASTER MITIGATION
EXPENDITURES.
(a) In General.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 70411 of
Public Law 119-21, is amended by inserting after section 25F the
following new section:
``SEC. 25G. DISASTER MITIGATION EXPENDITURES.
``(a) Allowance of Credit.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of an individual, there
shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this
chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to 25 percent of
the qualified disaster mitigation expenditures made by the
taxpayer during such taxable year.
``(2) Annual limitation.--Subject to subsection (b), the
credit allowed to a taxpayer under paragraph (1) for any
taxable year shall not exceed $3,750 (or, in the case of a
joint return, $7,500).
``(3) Cumulative limitation per qualified dwelling unit.--
Subject to subsection (b), the credit allowed under paragraph
(1) with respect to a qualified dwelling unit of the taxpayer
for any taxable year shall not exceed the excess (if any) of
$15,000 over the aggregate credits allowed under such paragraph
with respect to such qualified dwelling unit for all prior
taxable years ending after December 31, 2025.
``(b) Income Phaseout.--
``(1) In general.--The amount of the credit allowed under
subsection (a)(1) for the taxable year shall be reduced (but
not below zero) by an amount which bears the same ratio to the
amount under such subsection as--
``(A) the amount (not less than zero) equal to the
adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for such taxable
year minus $100,000, bears to
``(B) $50,000.
``(2) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of any taxable
year after 2026, each of the dollar amounts under paragraph (1)
shall be increased by an amount equal to--
``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined
under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which
the taxable year begins, determined by substituting
`calendar year 2025' for `calendar year 2016' in
subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.
``(3) Rounding.--If any reduction determined under
paragraph (1) is not a multiple of $50, or any increase under
paragraph (2) is not a multiple of $50, such amount shall be
rounded to the nearest multiple of $50.
``(4) Joint return.--If a joint return is filed by the
taxpayer for the taxable year, for purposes of determining the
amount of any reduction under paragraph (1) for such taxable
year, the dollar amounts under such paragraph (after
application of paragraphs (2) and (3)) shall be doubled.
``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
``(1) Qualified disaster mitigation expenditure.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and
(C), the term `qualified disaster mitigation
expenditure' means an expenditure relating to a
qualified dwelling unit--
``(i) for property to--
``(I) improve the strength of a
roof deck attachment,
``(II) create a secondary water
barrier to prevent water intrusion or
mitigate against potential water
intrusion from wind-driven rain,
``(III) improve the durability,
impact resistance (not less than class
3 or 4 rating), or fire resistance (not
less than class A rating) of a roof
covering,
``(IV) brace gable-end walls,
``(V) reinforce the connection
between a roof and supporting wall,
``(VI) protect openings from
penetration by wind-borne debris,
``(VII) protect exterior doors and
garages from natural hazards,
``(VIII) complete measures
contained in the publication of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency
entitled `Wind Retrofit Guide for
Residential Buildings' (P-804),
``(IX) elevate the qualified
dwelling unit, as well as utilities,
machinery, or equipment, above the base
flood elevation or other applicable
minimum elevation requirement,
``(X) seal walls in the basement of
the qualified dwelling unit using
waterproofing compounds, or
``(XI) protect propane tanks or
other external fuel sources,
``(ii) to install--
``(I) check valves to prevent flood
water from backing up into drains,
``(II) flood vents, breakaway walls
or open lattice for homes located in V
zones,
``(III) a stormwater drainage
system or improve an existing system,
``(IV) natural or nature-based
features for flood control, including
living shorelines,
``(V) roof coverings, sheathing,
flashing, roof and attic vents, eaves,
or gutters that conform to ignition-
resistant construction standards,
``(VI) wall components for wall
assemblies that conform to ignition-
resistant construction standards,
``(VII) a wall-to-foundation anchor
or connector, or a shear transfer
anchor or connector,
``(VIII) wood structural panel
sheathing for strengthening cripple
walls,
``(IX) anchorage of the masonry
chimney to the framing,
``(X) prefabricated lateral
resisting systems,
``(XI) a standby generator system
consisting of a standby generator and
an automatic transfer switch,
``(XII) a storm shelter that meets
the design and construction standards
established by the International Code
Council and the National Storm Shelter
Association (ICC-500), or a safe room
that satisfies the criteria contained
in--
``(aa) the publication of
the Federal Emergency
Management Agency entitled
`Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and
Hurricanes' (P-361), or
``(bb) the publication of
the Federal Emergency
Management Agency entitled
`Taking Shelter from the Storm'
(P-320),
``(XIII) a lightning protection
system,
``(XIV) exterior walls, doors,
windows, or other exterior dwelling
unit elements that conform to ignition-
resistant construction standards,
``(XV) exterior deck or fence
components that conform to ignition-
resistant construction standards,
``(XVI) structure-specific water
hydration systems, including fire
mitigation systems such as interior and
exterior sprinkler systems,
``(XVII) water capture and delivery
systems to accommodate drought events
or to decrease water use, including the
design of such systems,
``(XVIII) flood openings for fully
enclosed areas below the lowest floor
of the dwelling unit,
``(XIX) lateral bracing for wall
elements, foundation elements, and
garage doors or other large openings to
resist seismic loads, or
``(XX) automatic shutoff valves for
water and gas lines, or
``(iii) for services or equipment to--
``(I) create buffers around the
qualified dwelling unit through the
removal or reduction of flammable
vegetation, including vertical
clearance of tree branches,
``(II) create buffers around the
dwelling unit through--
``(aa) the removal of
exterior deck or fence
components or ignition-prone
landscape features, or
``(bb) replacement of the
components or features
described in item (aa) with
components or features that
conform to ignition-resistant
construction standards,
``(III) perform fire maintenance
procedures identified by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency or the
United States Forest Service, including
fuel management techniques such as
creating fuel and fire breaks,
``(IV) replace flammable vegetation
with less flammable species, or
``(V) prevent smoke inhalation,
such as air filters or other equipment
designed to prevent smoke from entering
the dwelling unit,
``(iv) for property relating to satisfying
the standards required for receipt of a
FORTIFIED designation or a Wildfire Prepared
designation from the Insurance Institute for
Business and Home Safety, or any third-party
verified certification demonstrating compliance
with nationally recognized and consensus-based
hazard mitigation or resilience standards,
provided that the qualified dwelling unit
receives such designation or certifications
following installation of such property, or
``(v) for any other hazard mitigation
activity which has been identified by the
Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, for mitigation of a natural
hazard or compliance with other consensus-based
resiliency standards.
``(B) Hazard-specific applicability.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii),
the term `qualified disaster mitigation
expenditure' shall only apply to expenditures
relating to a qualified dwelling unit which are
described in subparagraph (A) if such
expenditures address a hazard type identified
in the applicable State or tribal Standard
State Mitigation Plans or Enhanced State
Mitigation Plans, as prepared under section
201.4 or 201.5 of title 44, Code of Federal
Regulations (as in effect on the date of
enactment of this section).
``(ii) Negative lists.--The Secretary, in
consultation with the Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, may
publish a list of inapplicable expenditures
which are region-specific in order to prohibit
the application of subsection (a) for
expenditures relating to hazards which are not
relevant to the location of the qualified
dwelling unit.
``(C) Exception.--The term `qualified disaster
mitigation expenditure' shall not include any
expenditure or portion thereof which is paid, funded,
or reimbursed by a Federal, State, or local government
entity, or any political subdivision, agency, or
instrumentality thereof.
``(2) Qualified dwelling unit.--The term `qualified
dwelling unit' means a dwelling unit which is located--
``(A) in the United States or in a territory of the
United States, and
``(B) in an area--
``(i) which, during the taxable year or the
period of the 5 taxable years preceding such
taxable year, has received hazard mitigation
assistance through the Federal Emergency
Management Agency in regard to any natural
disaster which, with respect to the expenditure
described in paragraph (1) which is made by the
taxpayer, is applicable to such expenditure,
and
``(ii)(I) in which a Federal natural
disaster declaration has been made within the
preceding 5-year period,
``(II) which is adjacent to an area
described in subclause (I), or
``(III) which, with respect to any taxable
year, has been designated as a community
disaster resilience zone (as defined in section
206(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5136(a))).
``(d) Limitation.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of an expenditure described
in clause (i) or (ii) of subsection (c)(1)(A), such expenditure
shall be taken into account in determining the qualified
disaster mitigation expenditures made by the taxpayer during
the taxable year only if the onsite preparation, assembly, or
original installation of the property with respect to which
such expenditure is made has been completed in a manner that is
deemed to be in compliance with the latest published editions
of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and
standards or any more restrictive Federal, State, or local
floodplain management standards and consistent with floodplain
management regulations for the local jurisdiction in which the
qualified dwelling unit is located.
``(2) Latest published editions.--The term `latest
published editions' means, with respect to relevant consensus-
based codes, specifications, and standards, either of the 2
most recently published editions.
``(e) Labor Costs.--For purposes of this section, expenditures for
labor costs properly allocable to the onsite preparation, assembly, or
original installation of the property described in clause (i) or (ii)
of subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be taken into account in determining the
qualified disaster mitigation expenditures made by the taxpayer during
the taxable year.
``(f) Inspection Costs.--For purposes of this section, expenditures
for the cost of any inspection required under subsection (d) which is
properly allocable to the inspection of the preparation, assembly, or
installation of the property described in clause (i) or (ii) of
subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be taken into account in determining the
qualified disaster mitigation expenditures made by the taxpayer during
the taxable year.
``(g) Carryforward of Unused Credit.--
``(1) In general.--If the credit allowable under subsection
(a)(1) for any taxable year exceeds the applicable tax limit
for such taxable year, such excess shall be a carryover to each
of the 5 succeeding taxable years and, subject to the
limitations of paragraph (2), shall be added to the credit
allowable by subsection (a)(1) for such succeeding taxable
year.
``(2) Limitation.--The amount of the unused credit which
may be taken into account under paragraph (1) for any taxable
year shall not exceed the amount (if any) by which the
applicable tax limit for such taxable year exceeds the sum of--
``(A) the credit allowable under subsection (a)(1)
for such taxable year determined without regard to this
subsection, and
``(B) the amounts which, by reason of this
subsection, are carried to such taxable year and are
attributable to taxable years before the unused credit
year.
``(3) Applicable tax limit.--For purposes of this
subsection, the term `applicable tax limit' means the
limitation imposed by section 26(a) for the taxable year
reduced by the sum of the credits allowable under this subpart
(other than this section).
``(h) Documentation.--Any taxpayer claiming the credit under this
section shall provide the Secretary with adequate documentation
regarding the specific qualified disaster mitigation expenditures made
by the taxpayer during the taxable year, as well as such other
information or documentation as the Secretary may require.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart A of
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 25F the following new
item:
``Sec. 25G. Disaster mitigation expenditures.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
SEC. 3. BUSINESS-RELATED CREDIT FOR DISASTER MITIGATION.
(a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after
section 45AA the following new section:
``SEC. 45BB. DISASTER MITIGATION CREDIT.
``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, the disaster
mitigation credit determined under this section for any taxable year is
an amount equal to 25 percent of the qualified disaster mitigation
expenditures made by the taxpayer during the taxable year.
``(b) Maximum Credit.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of
the credit determined under subsection (a) for any taxable year
shall not exceed $5,000.
``(2) Phaseout.--
``(A) In general.--The amount under paragraph (1)
for the taxable year shall be reduced (but not below
zero) by an amount which bears the same ratio to the
amount under such paragraph as--
``(i) the amount (not less than zero) equal
to the average gross receipts of the taxpayer
over the 3 preceding taxable years minus
$5,000,000, bears to
``(ii) $5,000,000.
``(B) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of any
taxable year after 2026, each of the dollar amounts
under subparagraph (A) shall be increased by an amount
equal to--
``(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by
``(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment
determined under section 1(f)(3) for the
calendar year in which the taxable year begins,
determined by substituting `calendar year 2025'
for `calendar year 2016' in subparagraph
(A)(ii) thereof.
``(C) Rounding.--If any reduction determined under
subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $50, or any
increase under subparagraph (B) is not a multiple of
$50, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest
multiple of $50.
``(c) Qualified Disaster Mitigation Expenditure.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term
`qualified disaster mitigation expenditure' has the same
meaning given such term under paragraph (1) of section 25G(c),
except that `place of business' shall be substituted for
`qualified dwelling unit' each place it appears in such
paragraph.
``(2) Place of business.--For purposes of this section, an
expenditure shall not be treated as a qualified disaster
mitigation expenditure (as defined in paragraph (1)) unless the
taxpayer's place of business is located--
``(A) in the United States or in a territory of the
United States, and
``(B) in an area--
``(i) in which a Federal natural disaster
declaration has been made within the preceding
5-year period,
``(ii) which is adjacent to an area
described in clause (i),
``(iii) which, during the taxable year or
the period of the 5 taxable years preceding
such taxable year, has received hazard
mitigation assistance through the Federal
Emergency Management Agency in regard to any
natural disaster which, with respect to the
expenditure described in section 25G(c)(1)
which is made by the taxpayer, is applicable to
such expenditure, or
``(iv) which, with respect to any taxable
year, has been designated as a community
disaster resilience zone (as defined in section
206(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5136(a))).
``(d) Special Rules.--Rules similar to the rules of subsections (d)
through (g) of section 25G shall apply for purposes of this section.
``(e) No Double Benefit.--No credit shall be determined under this
section with respect to any expenditures for which a credit was allowed
under section 25G.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 38(b) of such Code is amended by striking
``plus'' at the end of paragraph (40), by striking the period
at the end of paragraph (41) and inserting ``, plus'', and by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(42) the disaster mitigation credit determined under
section 45BB(a).''.
(2) The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of
subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 45AA the following new item:
``Sec. 45BB. Disaster mitigation credit.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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