Proposal Expanding Disaster Relief to State Declared Disasters Passes Committee

Representatives David Kustoff (R-TN) and Judy Chu (D-CA) previously introduced H.R. 517 the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act. The bill would allow the governor of a state or territory to extend a federal tax filing deadline in the event of a state-declared emergency or disaster, which happens automatically for federally declared disasters. Extending this authority to states gives them the ability to provide relief independent of the federal government’s involvement in an emergency or natural disaster. The legislation would also expand the mandatory federal filing extension from 60 days to 120 days.

The proposal passed unanimously by the House Committee on Ways and Means and has been reported out of committee with amendment. A companion bill was also previously introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and several cosponsors in the Senate.