Bill > SB518

This bill amends Arkansas state law to modify how local governments can regulate development in flood-prone areas. Currently, cities, towns, and counties have broad authority to enact ordinances and regulations for managing land in flood-prone zones, including restricting development, guiding construction away from flood hazards, and requiring flood-proofing measures. The new provision introduces a significant limitation: local governments cannot adopt regulations for special flood hazard areas (as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA) that are more restrictive than the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) specific guidelines as of January 1, 2025, unless they provide compensation for any reduction in the area's value. This means that if a local government wants to implement stricter flood zone regulations beyond the NFIP's current guidelines, they would need to financially compensate property owners for potential economic losses resulting from those more stringent rules. The bill aims to balance local regulatory flexibility with property owners' economic interests in flood-prone regions.

Government Affairs

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb518&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R