Rep. Greg Steube Announces Senate Passage of his Disaster Tax Relief Legislation
Steube Legislation Heads to President Biden’s Desk
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today announced his legislation, H.R. 5863 The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation provides long-awaited tax relief for Americans harmed by recent hurricanes, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and the train derailment in Ohio. The legislation now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature to become law.
“More than two years ago, Hurricane Ian decimated my district. Due to inaction by Congress, millions of Americans have missed out on the disaster tax deductions that are typically available after presidentially-declared disasters. Since then, I’ve fought to deliver tax relief for not only my constituents – but for the many Americans impacted by natural disasters across the country. Floridians have compounded damage and rebuilding expenses from five hurricanes since Ian, including three back-to-back hurricanes this season. I promised to fight for full hurricane recovery for my district as long as it takes. Today, Congress delivered on my promise,” said Rep. Steube. “I applaud the Senate for putting this relief within arms reach for Floridians – we’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in Floridians’ pockets thanks to my legislation. I expect President Biden will recognize the great impact my legislation will have on America’s families and sign my legislation into law.”
Rep. Steube’s legislation designates that Hurricane Ian and other hurricanes including Hurricanes Idalia, Nicole, Fiona, Debby, Helene, and Milton should be treated as qualified disaster events for purposes of determining the tax treatment of certain disaster-related personal casualty losses. The legislation will cover any potential major disasters occurring up to 60 days after the President’s signature.
The legislation would allow Americans who were subjected to damages from hurricanes and other federally declared disasters to claim such losses without itemizing such deductions. Moreover, such losses would not have to exceed 10% of a claimant’s adjusted gross income to qualify.
Additionally, the bill excludes from taxpayer gross income, for income tax purposes, any amount received by an individual taxpayer as compensation for expenses or losses incurred due to a qualified wildfire disaster (a disaster declared after 2014 as a result of a forest or range fire). It also excludes relief payments for losses resulting from the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment on February 3, 2023.
Since 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has declared over 300 disasters impacting nearly 90 percent of the country. 47 states have experienced a covered disaster since 2021.
Background
The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act passed the U.S. House on May 21, 2024 after Rep. Steube succeeded in a rarely-used legislative tactic to force a vote on his legislation. Rep. Steube filed the discharge petition on April 30, 2024, which reached the required 218 signatures on May 15, 2024. His discharge petition represents only the 3rd successful discharge petition in the Congressional history of public discharge petitions.
The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act first passed the U.S. House on January 31, 2024 as part of The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. This bipartisan tax package stalled in the Senate and never received a vote.
Residents of Florida’s 17th Congressional District have rebuilt from six major hurricanes in just two years.
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season was the deadliest season in two decades, as three storms made landfall in Florida in just 3 months. Hurricane Debby, a category one storm making landfall on August 5, 2024, brought flash flooding and river flooding far inland. More than three quarters of all homes damaged by Hurricane Debby were outside of designated flood zones. Hurricanes Helene and Milton, both Category 4 storms, hit within 13 days of each other in October 2024. Helene brought 15 feet of storm surge to the Big Bend, with 5-7 foot storm surge up the Gulf Coast. Helene impacted nearly all Southeast U.S. states, with unprecedented devastation in Western North Carolina. Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida’s 17 District with 7-8 foot storm surge and over 100 mph winds. Hurricane Milton also spurred deadly tornado outbreaks across the Florida peninsula. Milton broke multiple meteorological records, including the highest number of tornado warnings issued in Florida in one day, and Tampa broke its monthly rainfall record of more than 100 years in just one day.
Last season, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend on August 30, 2023, bringing a devastating surge of 7 to 12 feet. In some areas, this exceeded levels from the 1993 Storm of the Century.
Hurricane season 2022 brought two storms to Florida. On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian struck Florida with 150 mph winds, just below a direct Category 5 hit. Ian left historic devastation in its wake, decimating Fort Myers Beach and killing more than 100 Floridians. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ranks Hurricane Ian as the third-most costly hurricane in U.S. history. After Ian, Hurricane Nicole made landfall on November 10, 2022 as a category 1 Hurricane near Vero Beach, Florida. Nicole caused approximately $1 billion in damages and claimed five lives.
U.S. House Passes Steube Legislation, The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act
U.S. House Passes Steube Legislation to Provide Disaster Tax Relief for Florida Hurricane Victims
Steube Legislation to Provide Disaster Tax Relief Advances Out of Ways and Means Committee
STEUBE: One year after Hurricane Ian, the Suncoast still needs help. Congress must step up.
Rep. Greg Steube Introduces Legislation to Provide Income Tax Relief for Americans Recovering from Hurricane Ian, Legislation Designates Hurricane Ian as a Qualified Disaster
