HB 900, the Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025, directs the U.S. Geological Survey to create a national program to identify and map areas at greater risk of sinkhole formation. The bill requires USGS to study both short-term and long-term causes of sinkholes, including extreme storm events, prolonged drought, changes in water management, aquifer depletion, and other major shifts in water use. It also requires the agency to use 3D elevation data collected under the National Landslide Preparedness Act when developing the maps.
The bill further requires USGS to review the maps at least once every five years, or more often if needed, and to maintain a public website that displays the maps and related information for community planners and emergency managers. The measure is framed as a hazard-identification and preparedness bill, with the goal of improving public access to geologic risk information and supporting local planning and emergency response.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would expand the responsibilities of the U.S. Geological Survey by creating a new sinkhole hazard mapping program and a public-facing information platform. It would not directly regulate private parties or impose state-level mandates, but it would affect how hazard data is produced and shared for use by state and local governments, planners, and emergency managers. The bill also ties sinkhole mapping to existing federal 3D elevation data infrastructure, reinforcing the use of geospatial data in natural hazard assessment.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable treatment of the bill. It passed the House and was received in the Senate, where it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. No committee transcript or recorded vote details are provided, so there is no evidence of organized opposition in the available materials. The bill’s focus on public safety, hazard awareness, and planning support likely contributes to its broadly practical and noncontroversial framing.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of debate, based on the text alone, could include federal spending and appropriations, the scope of USGS authority, and whether sinkhole risk mapping should be a federal or state/local responsibility. Another possible issue is the bill’s reliance on existing 3D elevation data and whether that data is sufficiently complete or current for all regions, but no participant in the record is identified as raising these concerns.
Establishing the Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Program and the Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Fund; establishing and providing for the powers and duties of the Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Board; providing for duties of the Auditor General; imposing a penalty; and making transfers.
A bill for an act providing for regulation of certain noncoal mine sites, including the reclamation of land above active underground mine sites disturbed by the formation of sinkholes, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 1029.)
A bill for an act providing for regulation of certain noncoal mine sites, including the reclamation of land above active underground mine sites disturbed by the formation of sinkholes, providing fees, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 225.)
Allows counties and municipalities to use open space trust funds for remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on property owned by county or municipality.