# 119-s-459: Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act

119-s-459, Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] (R-MS); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-459
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-459
- Congress: 119
- Title: Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-06
- Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] (R-MS)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Protect amateur radio operators' ability to install and operate antennas on property they control.** This bill would limit private land use restrictions that unreasonably delay, prevent, or raise the cost of installing, maintaining, or operating an amateur station antenna. - Amateur radio operators would get clearer, nationwide protections. The bill defines "amateur station" and expands "antenna" to include feedlines, control and electrical enclosures, supports, guy wires, anchors, and related parts. - Community associations and HOAs would face limits on rules that unreasonably block antennas. They may still require antennas to meet safety, manufacturer specs, local zoning, tower ordinances, and building codes. - Renters and lessees who control residential property would be covered. The bill explicitly includes people with possession under leases and lease/purchase arrangements. - Individuals harmed by violations would be able to sue under new enforcement procedures. The bill also narrows rules that force prior approval and exempts some antenna categories from prior-approval requirements altogether.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-02-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Limits on HOA antenna bans: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would bar private land use rules that ban or unreasonably block an amateur radio antenna on property you control. It would allow only reasonable safety, building-code, and manufacturer limits and limited visual screening for some ground enclosures. Small antennas would be exemp…
- Pause enforcement and right to sue: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require associations or others to stop enforcing a challenged rule while an FCC or court action is pending. No fines or penalties could accrue against an operator during that time. The party trying to enforce a restriction would have to prove the restriction complies with…
- Who counts as an amateur operator: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would say who is an amateur radio operator and what an amateur station and antenna include. It would use the FCC rule 47 C.F.R. 97.3 to define operators and stations. "Antenna" would include feedlines, control or electrical boxes, supports, anchors, guy wires, and similar parts…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-4784: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-2904: SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026
- 119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-459 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/459)

## Related
- [119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2296)
- [119-s-4784: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4784)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-2904: SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2904)
- [119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3597)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-459 (as of 2026-09-10).