Sponsors (3)
The bill provides federal funding, technical support, and improved interoperability and cybersecurity to modernize 9‑1‑1—especially helping Tribal deployments—while creating budgetary costs, administrative limits, and short‑term uncertainty that could strain some local services.
State, Tribal, and local emergency centers will receive federal grants to deploy and maintain Next Generation 9‑1‑1 (NG9‑1‑1), accelerating modernization of emergency call infrastructure and improving call routing and resilience for residents across jurisdictions.
Callers and first responders will gain richer, faster emergency information because funding supports NG9‑1‑1 interoperability and multimedia capabilities (text, photos, video), improving situational awareness and response times.
Emergency communications centers can use grant funds for cybersecurity measures, strengthening protection against cyberattacks that could disrupt 9‑1‑1 services and helping safeguard hospitals and local critical services.
Local governments and residents could face service disruptions if jurisdictions that previously misused 9‑1‑1 fees must return funds or are barred from grants, potentially leaving some areas without necessary modernization resources.
Taxpayers bear increased federal spending risk because the bill authorizes open‑ended funding ('such sums as necessary') for FY2027–FY2031, potentially raising budgetary pressures or future tax implications.
Local agencies and Tribal programs may struggle to cover administrative and workforce transition costs because administrative caps (1% general, 2% for Tribes) and limits on training funding constrain how grant money can be used.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Introduced March 11, 2026 by Amy Klobuchar · Last progress March 11, 2026
Creates a coordinated federal program at NTIA to help States, Tribes, and multi‑jurisdictional authorities deploy, maintain, and secure Next Generation 9‑1‑1 (NG9‑1‑1) systems by providing competitive grants, technical assistance, rulemaking, reporting, and cybersecurity coordination. Sets application, certification, and interoperability requirements, creates an NG9‑1‑1 Cybersecurity Center and a Public Safety Advisory Board, requires management and reporting timelines, and authorizes funding for FY2027–FY2031. Grants may cover implementation, maintenance, training, outreach, limited administrative costs, and cybersecurity; include caps on training and admin expenses for non‑Tribes and Tribes; and are conditioned on certifications about fee use, interoperability, governance, and sustainable funding. The Assistant Secretary at NTIA (with input from NHTSA) runs the program, issues rules, reviews applications, and must publish a management plan within 180 days of enactment.