HB6342, the “Clean Up Disasters and Emergencies with Better Recovery and Immediate Support Act” or “Clean Up DEBRIS Act,” would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to expand disaster-debris removal authority for certain residential property arrangements. The bill adds definitions for residential common interest communities, condominiums, housing cooperatives, and manufactured home parks, and it directs the President to issue rules treating debris or wreckage removal from units in those settings as being in the public interest when a state or local government determines in writing that the debris poses a threat to life, public health or safety, or the economic recovery of the community.
The bill is aimed at improving post-disaster cleanup and recovery in multi-owner housing settings where debris removal can be complicated by shared ownership, association governance, or unclear responsibility for common areas. It also requires federal rules to defer to state and local legal definitions where applicable, suggesting an intent to align federal disaster assistance with existing property law structures rather than impose a single national model.
In practical terms, the bill would amend federal disaster law under the Stafford Act and apply only to major disasters or emergencies declared on or after enactment. It would likely affect FEMA or other federal disaster-response implementation by clarifying when debris removal in these communities qualifies for federal support, and it could benefit homeowners, condominium associations, cooperative housing entities, and manufactured home park residents affected by disasters.
The available context suggests generally favorable or at least supportive treatment, as the bill was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and then to a subcommittee, with no recorded votes or committee transcript indicating opposition. Because there is no voting history or hearing record provided, there is little direct evidence of controversy in the available materials.
The main potential point of contention is the scope of federal involvement in privately governed housing communities and whether the bill could broaden disaster-relief obligations or create administrative complexity for FEMA and state/local governments. Another possible issue is the bill’s reliance on state or local written determinations, which may raise questions about consistency across jurisdictions and how quickly debris removal decisions can be made after a disaster.
Impact
The bill would amend the Stafford Act by adding new definitions and by directing federal rules for debris removal in residential common interest communities, condominiums, housing cooperatives, and manufactured home parks. It would affect federal disaster-assistance administration, especially FEMA’s debris-removal determinations, and would apply prospectively to disasters or emergencies declared on or after enactment. The bill also gives deference to state and local legal definitions, potentially influencing how federal disaster aid interacts with state property and housing law.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge partisan sentiment. Based on the bill’s referral status and the absence of recorded opposition in the supplied materials, the measure appears to have been introduced as a technical disaster-recovery expansion rather than a highly contentious proposal. The overall tone in the available context is neutral to supportive.
Contention
The likely areas of contention are whether the federal government should explicitly cover debris removal in privately governed housing arrangements and whether the bill could expand disaster-relief costs or administrative burdens. Stakeholders who may favor the bill include condominium owners, HOA/common-interest community residents, cooperative housing residents, manufactured home park residents, and local governments seeking faster cleanup authority. Potential skeptics may include fiscal conservatives, federalism advocates, or administrators concerned about implementation standards and the need for written state or local findings before federal action.
Support Neighborhoods Offset Winter Damage Act of 2025 or the SNOW Act of 2025This bill authorizes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funding for winter storm hazard mitigation and requires FEMA rulemaking to expand assistance for winter storms. It also increases the federal cost share for various FEMA grants, for any hazard type, in rural or disadvantaged areas.The bill specifically authorizes the use of grant funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program to reduce the risk of future damage in areas affected by winter storms, such as by acquiring snow removal equipment. Also, under current FEMA policy, in determining eligibility and recommending a presidential major disaster declaration for a snowstorm, FEMA’s considerations include whether data shows record (or near record) snowfall and whether estimated statewide costs meet applicable thresholds. The bill requires FEMA to create regulations waiving these eligibility requirements for a major disaster declaration for a snowstorm in certain circumstances. FEMA must also create regulations to provide certain assistance for winter storms, including for debris removal and specified infrastructure, as well as individual and emergency assistance when the state determines the storm exceeds state and local capacity. In addition, for any hazard type, the bill requires FEMA to increase the federal cost share from 75% to 90% for certain assistance provided in rural or disadvantaged areas. It also authorizes an increased HMGP federal cost share amount from 75% to 90% for assistance in rural or disadvantaged areas.