H.R. 8407

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8407 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8407

To direct the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology 
to establish a Commission on Hazard Risk Assessment Tools, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 21, 2026

Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida (for himself, Mr. Amo, and Mr. Miller of 
Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology 
to establish a Commission on Hazard Risk Assessment Tools, and for 
other purposes.

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 ``Advancing Consistent and Credible 
Use of Risk Assessment Tools and Evaluation Act'' or the ``ACCURATE 
Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMISSION ON HAZARD RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLS.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the enactment of 
this Act, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology 
shall establish a commission to be known as the ``Commission on Hazard 
Risk Assessment Tools'' (in this section referred to as the 
``Commission''). The Commission shall serve in an advisory capacity and 
provide recommendations to the Under Secretary.
(b) Duties.--The duties of the Commission include the following:
(1) Identify hazard risk assessment tools and models needed 
and procured by Federal Departments and agencies, including--
(A) hazard maps;
(B) flood maps;
(C) return period maps;
(D) hazard scores;
(E) hazard ratings; and
(F) risk scores.
(2) Identify the sources of key data inputs and parameters 
used in the development of hazard risk assessment tools and 
models including--
(A) data related to the frequency and severity of 
natural hazards;
(B) scientific data related to how the frequency 
and severity of natural hazard affect, influence, shape 
risks and offsets of the built environment described in 
paragraph (C) and (D);
(C) data related to inventories of the built 
environment, including buildings and infrastructure;
(D) data related to natural hazard exposures and 
vulnerabilities of built environments including 
infrastructure, economic activity and human 
populations; and
(E) data related to the adaptation and hazard 
mitigation practices used to offset the risk to and 
impact of natural hazard exposures and vulnerabilities 
of built environments.
(3) Develop and submit to the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Standards and Technology recommended standards and 
specifications required to validate the quality control of 
hazard risk assessment tools and models described in subsection 
(1). Such standards and specifications shall address--
(A) The data inputs and parameters described in 
subsection (2);
(B) Model assumptions; and
(C) Validation of model outputs.
(4) Develop and submit to the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Standards and Technology recommended standardized 
methodologies and protocols for the collection, validation, and 
analysis of the key data inputs and parameters identified in 
subsection (3).
(5) Catalogue the quality, reliability, usability, 
timeliness, accuracy, consistency, and transparency needs for 
hazard risk assessment tools and models used by Federal 
departments and agencies that currently procure or utilize such 
tools, as determined by the Commission.
(6) Make recommendations to the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Standards and Technology regarding best practices for 
Federal departments and agencies for procurement of hazard risk 
assessment tools regarding the quality, reliability, usability, 
timeliness, accuracy, consistency, and transparency of hazard 
risk assessment tools and models. Such recommendations shall 
include an evaluation of the Federal Acquisition Regulations 
pertinent to such Federal departments and agencies to determine 
whether the current requirements should be updated based upon 
the recommended best practices guidance for the procurement of 
hazard risk assessment tools.
(7) Review and action.--
(A) Not later than 180 days after receiving 
recommendations from the Commission under this 
subsection, the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Standards and Technology shall review such 
recommendations and determine whether to adopt, modify, 
or decline such standards, methodologies, or best 
practices.
(B) The Under Secretary for Standards and 
Technology may issue guidance, standards, or other 
appropriate directives for use by Federal departments 
and agencies based on such determinations.
(c) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall be comprised of 
representatives from each of the following categories.
(A) A Federal department or agency responsible for 
modeling natural hazards.
(B) A state or local emergency response 
organization.
(C) FEMA.
(D) A state regulatory agency that utilizes or 
procures hazard risk assessment tools or models.
(E) A Federal department or agency that utilizes or 
procures hazard risk assessment tools or models.
(F) A non-governmental organization or national 
association representing rural communities.
(G) A non-governmental organization or national 
association representing urban communities.
(H) Insurance industry.
(I) Banking industry.
(J) Public utility industry.
(K) Construction industry.
(L) Real estate industry.
(M) Transportation/logistics.
(N) Risk management consultant/professional.
(O) Structural engineering.
(P) Institute of higher education (as such term is 
defined in Section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) conducting research on hazard 
risk assessment tools or modeling.
(Q) Institute of higher education utilizing 
artificial intelligence (as such term is described in 
the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 
2020 (15 U.S.C 9401)) to improve hazard risk assessment 
tools or models.
(2) Chairperson.--The Commission shall be chaired by the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology or 
their designee.
(3) Appointment.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall 
appoint the members to satisfy the representational 
requirements described in paragraph (1).
(4) Expertise.--Every member of the Commission appointed 
shall all have expertise in at least one of the following 
categories:
(A) Emergency management or response.
(B) Utilization or procurement of hazard risk 
assessment products or models.
(C) Modeling of natural hazards.
(D) Community planning.
(E) Structural engineering with respect to natural 
hazards.
(F) Research of hazard risk assessment products or 
models.
(G) Utilizing artificial intelligence to improve 
hazard risk assessment products or models.
(5) Balance.--When appointing the members of the Committee, 
the Chairperson shall ensure at least one person with each of 
the expertise described in paragraph (4) is represented.
(6) Vacancies.--Within 30 days of a vacancy on the 
Commission occurring, the Chairperson shall fill such vacancy 
from the same category that created the vacancy and satisfied 
the requirements described in this section.
(d) Conflict of Interest, Disclosure, and Recusal.--
(1) Conflict of interest reporting.--A member of the 
Commission who is not designated a Special Government Employee 
(SGE) shall disclose to the Chairpersons any real or potential 
conflict of interest if such member has a direct financial 
interest in any hazard risk assessment tools, model, or 
modeling provider that is subject to review or validation 
through the standards and specifications established in 
subsection (b)(2).
(2) SGE.--A member of the Commission designated as a 
special government employee shall be subject to applicable laws 
as delineated under 18 USC 201 et Seq, Standards of Ethical 
Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch.
(3) Disclosure protocols.--A member of the Commission 
disclosing a conflict of interest in subsection (d)(1) shall 
submit a written report to the Commission to disclose the 
following:
(A) Direct financial interest.
(B) Affiliations with entities that have a direct 
financial interest.
(C) Close relative or family member that have a 
direct financial interest.
(4) Timing of disclosure.--Disclosure of conflict interest 
under subsection (1) shall occur before any meeting in which 
any hazard risk assessment tools, model or modeling provider is 
reviewed or validated.
(5) Recusal.--Any member with a conflict described in 
subsection (2) shall seek recusal from participation in 
deliberations, decisions, or votes related to the review that 
presents the conflict.
(e) Reports.--The Commission shall submit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(1) A report not later than 9 months after the convening of 
the Commission that includes the following:
(A) A catalogue of public and private sector 
sources of hazard risk assessment tools.
(B) An assessment of the extent to which Federal 
departments and agencies utilize or purchase hazard 
risk assessment tools or models produced by the private 
sector.
(C) A list of the key inputs and parameters to 
hazard risk assessment tools.
(2) A report not later than 9 months after the submission 
of the report in subsection (1) that includes the results of 
the Commission's duties outlined in section (b).
(3) A report not later than 18 months submission of the 
report in subsection (2) that includes the following:
(A) An analysis of the results of the Commission's 
duties listed under section (b) regarding the efficacy 
of the standards and specifications in improving the 
quality of the hazard risk assessment tools available.
(B) The identification of any standards or 
specifications that improve the quality of the hazard 
risk assessment tools available or any hazard risk 
assessment tool that has not yet been subject to the 
standards and specifications.
(C) Recommendations to address the deficiencies in 
existing standards and specifications and how to set 
standards and specifications for tools that did not 
fall under the purview of the original standards and 
specifications.
(f) Utilization of Hazard Risk Assessment Tools and Models.--
(1) Conditional application.--If the Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Standards and Technology adopts standards, 
methodologies, or guidance pursuant to subsection (b), Federal 
departments and agencies identified by the Commission shall, to 
the maximum extent practicable, incorporate such standards and 
guidance when procuring or utilizing hazard risk assessment 
tools and models from the private sector.
(2) Documentation.--(A) The purveyor of hazard risk 
assessment tools and models purchased in paragraph (1) shall 
document for Federal agencies, and provide such documentation, 
how such hazard risk assessment tools and models conform to the 
standards and specifications adopted or issued by the Under 
Secretary of Commerce under subsection (b). In order to qualify 
to sell hazard risk assessment tools and models that have 
undergone a material change to Federal departments and 
agencies, the purveyor shall document, and provide such 
documentation, of how the changed hazard risk assessment tools 
and models conform to the standards and specifications adopted 
or issued by the Under Secretary of Commerce under subsection 
(b)(7).
(3) Limited exceptions.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a 
Federal department or agency may procure or utilize hazard risk 
assessment tools or models that do not incorporate standards or 
guidance issued under this subsection if:
(A) the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards 
and Technology has not issued applicable standards or 
guidance for the specific use case; or
(B) such procurement or use is necessary to respond 
to a national emergency.
(4) Notification.--If a Federal department or agency relies 
on paragraph (3)(B), the agency shall, not later than 30 days 
after such use, notify the appropriate congressional committees 
and provide a brief justification, as well as what steps the 
agency has taken to ensure that such a purchase or utilization 
does not recur.
(g) Sunset.--The Commission terminates 5 years after the enactment 
of this Act.
(h) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Built environment.--The term ``built environment'' 
means any man-made or modified structures, including associated 
infrastructure, that provide people with living, working, and 
recreational spaces.
(2) Hazard risk.--The term ``hazard risk'' means the 
exposure of people, property, infrastructure, or economic 
activity to loss or disruption resulting from variations in 
natural hazards over a time period of at least one year.
(3) Hazard risk assessment tools.--The term ``hazard risk 
assessment tools'' means products developed using hazard risk 
information to create output including--
(A) hazard maps;
(B) flood maps;
(C) return period maps;
(D) hazard scores;
(E) hazard ratings; and
(F) risk scores.
(4) Natural hazards.--The term ``natural hazards'' means 
extreme weather, water, or seismic events, including wildfire, 
drought, flooding, damaging winds, tornadoes, precipitation, 
earthquakes, and other natural phenomena, that have a high risk 
of loss of life or property.
(5) Material change.--The term ``material change'' means a 
model version update that changes underlying input data, 
methodology, or assumptions, or updates losses or 
categorization of properties or areas by more than ten percent.
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