Sponsors (5)
The bill would modernize and expand radar coverage—improving warnings, forecasts, and safety, especially for rural areas—but does so at substantial federal cost, with a multidecade rollout and increased reliance on private partners that could create uneven access.
State and local governments, emergency managers, and the public would get improved radar coverage and more accurate severe-weather warnings, enhancing public safety and storm response.
Communities located more than 75 miles from existing NEXRAD stations—particularly rural areas—would gain new radar coverage through prioritized deployment and gap-filling partnerships.
Utilities, transportation systems, and aviation operators would receive improved weather- and water-related forecasts derived from better radar data, supporting safer operations and fewer weather-related disruptions.
Taxpayers could face substantial federal costs to implement a nationwide NEXRAD replacement by 2040, requiring significant funding or forcing trade-offs with other federal priorities.
A long implementation timeline stretching to 2040 risks leaving current coverage and technology gaps for years, meaning many communities may not see benefits for a long time.
Relying on commercial 'radar-as-a-service' models and private partners could create uneven long-term access to data and potential dependence on vendors, complicating public-sector control and equity of service.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires NOAA to establish a Radar Next Program to plan, test, partner, and deploy a NEXRAD replacement/augmentation with full implementation by Sept 30, 2040.
Official title: To require the evaluation of certain criteria relating to locations for deployment of successor radar systems of the National Weather Service, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 3, 2025 by Tim Moore · Last progress April 3, 2025
Creates a new "Radar Next Program" at NOAA to plan, test, and deploy a replacement and augmentation of the U.S. Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) network, with the goal of eliminating coverage gaps and improving data quality. The program must produce performance and coverage requirements, run a phased-array proof-of-concept and a radar testbed, identify prioritized deployment locations and partner options (including private radar-as-a-service providers), and achieve full implementation by September 30, 2040, with periodic progress reports to relevant Congressional committees. The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere will lead the effort in consultation with the National Weather Service and the broader weather enterprise, may contract with non‑NOAA partners, and must set expectations for data improvements and interoperability with existing systems (including FAA consultation).