Sponsors (18)
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Last progress June 6, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 6, 2025 by Frank D. Lucas
Updates and reauthorizes federal weather, water, and climate programs to strengthen forecasts, warnings, and hazard response across the United States. The bill defines “weather data,” extends and funds NOAA research and operational programs through FY2026–2030, directs new testing and pilot projects (radar interference testing, aviation weather/turbulence improvements, coastal fog forecasting, subseasonal-to-seasonal forecasting for drought and agriculture), creates/expands a NOAA Commercial Data Program to buy and test private observations, improves public warning messages and NOAA Weather Radio, builds national capacity to address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, establishes a national heat-health coordination system and plan, and reauthorizes and updates the National Landslide Preparedness program with a specified funding level. It sets programmatic deadlines (project plans, standards, reports), authorizes specified funding amounts for several activities through FY2026–2030, and adds new authorities for Arctic and Pacific work, interagency coordination, and data-sharing. Many provisions focus on moving research to operations, improving decision support for users (aviation, farmers, water managers, coastal communities), and integrating commercial data into federal systems.
States that the terms “seasonal,” “State,” “subseasonal,” “Under Secretary,” “weather enterprise,” “weather data,” and “weather industry” have the meanings given in section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501).
Redesignates paragraph (5) of section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 as paragraph (6).
Inserts a new paragraph (5) into section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 defining “Weather data” as “information used to track and predict weather conditions and patterns, including forecasts, observations, and derivative products from such information.”
Amends section 101 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8511) to restate “Public safety priority” duties for the Under Secretary, including focusing NOAA on accurate, timely forecasts that protect lives and property and enhance the national economy; coordinating observational infrastructure, forecasting, communications, and impact-based decision support services through the NWS Director; and improving operational forecasts/products/services through nimble, flexible, and mobile methods.
Requires the Under Secretary, when conducting research, to prioritize improving weather data, modeling, computing, forecasting, and warnings to protect life and property and enhance the national economy.
Primary federal impacts: NOAA gains new program authorities, funding authorizations, and reporting obligations; the agency must stand up or expand programs (radar testing, commercial data procurement, heat-health system, HABs incubator, fog project, landslide updates) and coordinate interagency and external partners. Funding authorizations through FY2026–2030 provide multi-year program support but require appropriation action to spend.
State, Tribal, territorial, and local governments: Will be engaged as partners for pilots, observing networks, warning improvements, and technical assistance—especially Arctic and Pacific Island partners, water managers, and emergency managers. The bill emphasizes consultation but does not appear to impose direct unfunded state mandates; participation in pilots and data-sharing is collaborative.
Private sector and academia: Commercial weather-data providers and private observation firms stand to gain new market opportunities through NOAA purchases and pilots; academic researchers will participate in tests, modeling improvements, and pilot projects. Standards and procurement rules will affect how commercial data are evaluated and integrated.
Users and frontline communities: Farmers, reservoir managers, coastal communities (including marine users), aviation operators and passengers, and public-health officials will see improved forecasts, targeted advisories (coastal fog, subseasonal forecasts, aviation turbulence), and clearer warning messages designed to increase protective actions. The heat-health system, HABs actions, and landslide upgrades aim to reduce health and economic harms in vulnerable populations and hazard-prone regions.
Emergency management and communications: Federal, State, Tribal, and local emergency planners will receive clearer, tested alert language and improved NOAA Weather Radio capabilities; GAO and other oversight reports are required to assess effectiveness and dissemination.
Budgetary effect and complexity: The bill authorizes specific funding levels for multiple programs through 2030, but appropriation and execution remain subject to future budget actions. Implementation will require interagency coordination, new procurement and data-sharing practices, and technical capacity to ingest and use commercial observations—making successful rollout administratively complex.
Updated 2 days ago
Last progress January 29, 2025 (1 year ago)
Updated 2 days ago
Last progress March 21, 2025 (10 months ago)
National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
Updated 1 day ago
Last progress January 7, 2026 (1 month ago)
Coordinated Federal Response to Extreme Heat Act of 2025
Updated 2 days ago
Last progress June 4, 2025 (8 months ago)
Updated 1 week ago
Last progress June 23, 2025 (7 months ago)