NEWS: U.S. Senate Sends Senator Schiff-Scott’s Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act to President’s Desk

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to send bipartisan, bicameral legislation by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act , to the President’s desk. The bill provides meaningful and long-overdue tax relief for victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters and ensures victims of natural disasters have immediate access to tax relief for years to come. The bill would allow for tax relief for victims of federally declared disasters, including hurricanes and wildfires. The bill also extends victims’ ability to make tax deductible payments from wildfire settlements, which often happen many years after a disaster, through January 1, 2027. It was renamed last year to the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act to honor Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who passed away in January of 2026. “Surviving a natural disaster can place an enormous financial burden on families. That’s why it’s critical we support victims of devastating disasters like the wildfires in California and across the country. I’m proud that this bipartisan effort with my colleagues Senator Rick Scott and Representatives Greg Steube, Mike Thompson, and Jimmy Panetta has advanced through Congress. We need to ensure that those hit the hardest when disaster strikes receive the support and the tax relief they need to recover. And in getting this bill to the President’s desk, we affirm a vital part of the late Doug LaMalfa’s legacy,” said Senator Adam Schiff. “Floridians are resilient in the face of natural disasters, and we always overcome them. While neighbors help neighbors and communities rebuild, we should be doing everything we can to make it easier on disaster victims in Florida and around the country to put their lives back together. We certainly should not saddle them with more uncertainty about their taxes. I am proud to support this bill to provide Americans critical clarity in the disaster relief process and honor the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s extensive work on this issue,” said Senator Rick Scott. U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) led the legislation in the House alongside Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.). The full text of the bill is available here. ###