NWR Modernization Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would modernize and expand NOAA Weather Radio to reach more rural, Tribal, and underserved areas and make emergency alerts more reliable. It directs NOAA to add transmitters, upgrade core systems, and study technology and access options to improve public access to alerts.
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- Families and households: Would prioritize reliability and maintenance, ensure timely repairs, and enhance the ability to amplify non-weather emergency messages. Broadcasts currently reach about 95% of the U.S. population.
- Rural communities, national parks, and Tribal lands: Would acquire additional transmitters and expand coverage to rural and underserved communities, national parks, and recreation areas.
- NOAA operations, emergency managers, and app developers: Requires a 12-month assessment of access and compatibility. It pushes upgrades to internet-protocol broadcasts, software changes for partial-county alerts, satellite backup options, microwave transmission research, and a transition of critical applications to the Integrated Dissemination Program.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Nationwide review of weather radio access
If enacted, NOAA would have 12 months to review access to NOAA Weather Radio. The study would check whether real-time broadcasts are continuous and adequate in cities and rural areas. NOAA would ask stakeholders how to make radio data work better on websites and phone apps. It would review management systems, central feed aggregation, and interagency coordination. The review would look at risks from electromagnetic or solar storms and recommend ways to improve access, including for territories and Tribal lands.
Stronger NOAA Weather Radio coverage and backups
If enacted, NOAA would expand and upgrade NOAA Weather Radio to reach more people. It would add transmitters for rural areas, parks, and recreation sites, and keep service where cell coverage is poor. NOAA would monitor sites and repair antennas and equipment quickly, and boost non-weather emergency messages. Broadcasts would shift toward internet-protocol over non-copper lines, with backups like satellites and commercial partners for outages. NOAA would enable partial-county alerts, test microwave links for remote sites, move key apps to the Integrated Dissemination Program, and follow the assessment’s advice to reach underserved places.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
OK • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
OH • R
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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