National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act

This bill tells the National Weather Service to replace its current internal chat system (often called NWSChat) with a ready‑made, commercial messaging tool. The new system must run on the public cloud, be easy to use, handle more users as the agency grows, and be similar to widely used commercial apps. The deadline to switch is October 1, 2027.

To pay for the change, the Weather Service can use up to $3 million a year from its existing budget for 2026 through 2029. No new money is created; it must come from funds already given to the agency.

• Who is affected: National Weather Service staff who use the agency’s messaging system.
• What changes: Move to a commercial, cloud‑hosted chat tool that is more user‑friendly and can handle more users.
• When: Must be in place by October 1, 2027; funding available 2026–2029 from existing funds.