North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey are urging Congress to pass H.R. 3161, the Preventing Environmental Hazards Act of 2025. Co-introduced by Congressman Greg Murphy, the bill aims to help homeowners at risk from severe weather and coastal erosion, as per the North Carolina Office of the Governor release.
Recent events have highlighted the need for action, with 27 oceanfront houses collapsing into the ocean on the Outer Banks since 2020, including 16 since September. The legislation would allow the National Flood Insurance Program to provide pre-collapse coverage, helping homeowners demolish or relocate properties at risk before they are lost.
The bill is based on a report by the National Park Service and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Stein and Causey emphasized the importance of protecting coastal communities, taxpayers, and the Outer Banks, and called for Congress to act promptly.
