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The House unanimously passed the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act, which expands the IRS's power to delay tax deadlines for people and businesses affected by state-level catastrophes.
H.R. 517, known as the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act, was designed to help Americans recover from local catastrophes without the added stress of federal tax deadlines. The bill allows the IRS to postpone tax filing and payment deadlines for disasters declared by state governors, rather than waiting for a presidential emergency declaration. It also doubles the minimum extension period from 60 days to 120 days, giving victims more time to focus on safety and recovery. This vote was conducted under a procedure called "suspension of the rules." This is a fast-track method typically used for non-controversial bills that have significant support from both parties. Because the process skips several standard legislative hurdles, it requires a higher bar for success: at least two-thirds of the members present and voting must approve the measure. The bill passed with total consensus from all members who participated in the vote, easily meeting the two-thirds requirement. After its approval in the House, the measure moved through the Senate and was eventually signed into law as Public Law No: 119-29.
Following this vote and subsequent Senate approval, the bill was signed by the President and became law.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. This bill ensures that federal tax relief can be triggered more quickly by state leaders and provides a longer recovery window for disaster victims.
Who’s affected. Disaster Victims: Individuals and businesses get a minimum of 120 days of federal tax relief following a declared catastrophe. · State Governors: Gain the power to secure federal tax extensions for their residents without waiting for a presidential declaration. · The IRS: Gains expanded authority to postpone tax deadlines for a broader range of disaster types.
Democrats. Every participating Democrat voted in favor of the measure.
Republicans. Every participating Republican voted in favor of the measure.
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
Mar 31, 2025
The House unanimously passed the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act, which expands the IRS's power to delay tax deadlines for people and businesses affected by state-level catastrophes.
This was a vote under 'suspension of the rules,' a common shortcut for bills with broad support. It requires a two-thirds majority to pass instead of a simple majority.
Following this vote and subsequent Senate approval, the bill was signed by the President and became law.
This bill ensures that federal tax relief can be triggered more quickly by state leaders and provides a longer recovery window for disaster victims.
The vote was entirely unanimous among both parties, showing total bipartisan agreement on providing tax relief to disaster victims.
Every participating Democrat voted in favor of the measure.
Every participating Republican voted in favor of the measure.
The chamber's independent member voted in favor of the bill.