The federal court in Gulfport, Miss., may consider stayingaspects of the planned National Flood Insurance Program rate hikesimposed by a 2012 law until the litigation is resolved oraffordability studies are concluded, a senior research attorney atthe University of Mississippi concluded in a new paper.

The court may find less flexibility to alter certain changesmandated by the law, the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012, such as the issuance of newpolicies at full-risk rates, the analysis states. This particularchange has been cited as an impediment to housing sales, the papernotes.

Niki Pace, an adjunct professor with the Mississippi-Alabama SeaGrant Legal Program, based at the University of Mississippi LawSchool, said her analysis is contingent on the court ruling infavor of the states that brought the suit on several proceduralissues. Her analysis was first published Thursday on Law360.