Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
In Committee
Summary
Modernize NOAA's weather forecasting and data systems to prioritize accurate, timely forecasts, warnings, and decision support that protect life, property, and the economy. The bill reauthorizes and funds multi‑year programs, builds AI and computing capacity, and upgrades observing systems and communications across many hazards.
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- Families and local emergency managers get clearer, impact‑based warnings for tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, heat, wildfire, and coastal flooding. The bill creates a hazard-communication program and sets $30 million per year for tsunami work.
- Farmers and water managers gain improved subseasonal‑to‑seasonal forecasts and a strengthened National Water Center to guide reservoir and drought decisions, backed by $40 million per year for pilot projects and $15–$17 million per year for the drought system.
- Forecasters, responders, and the weather industry receive major computing, AI, and observing investments including $311 million in FY2026 and $76 million per year FY2027–FY2030 for AI and modeling, plus radar modernization, mesonet expansion, and new incident meteorologist support.
*Authorizes multi‑year appropriations across NOAA weather and hazard programs through FY2030, which will increase federal spending for these capabilities.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
24 provisions identified: 23 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Staffing, pay rules, and health studies for NWS
If enacted, the bill would require several Cabinet Secretaries and OMB/OPM to prepare and start a staffing plan by March 30, 2026 so premium‑pay waivers are not needed. It would require OMB to categorize specified NOAA jobs as protective service occupations, create 5‑year staffing plans, and require annual hiring assessments. For calendar year 2026, premium pay for covered emergency response work would be ignored when applying some pay caps, though total pay would be capped at Executive Schedule Level II and that premium pay would not count toward retirement or lump‑sum leave. The bill would also require an outside study of rotating‑shift health effects for NWS employees.
Big push for forecast research and computing
If enacted, the bill would fund and speed NOAA research, computing, and forecast model upgrades. It would authorize specific OAR research funding for FY2026–FY2030 and direct NOAA to use high-performance computing for water and weather modeling. The Under Secretary would be required to use AI and include AI needs in major cloud and HPC buys and to report on computing needs within two years. The bill would also require pilots and work to improve forecasts weeks to months ahead and authorize subseasonal pilots with $40 million per year.
Modernize NOAA Weather Radio system
If enacted, NOAA Weather Radio would be modernized and expanded and must operate 24/7 with protections for outages. NOAA would acquire extra transmitters and add satellite dissemination and IP-based messaging to reach high‑risk and low‑broadband areas. The bill would also require more precise, partial‑county warnings while keeping existing systems supported.
Stronger water monitoring and drought help
If enacted, NOAA and partners would build a national soil moisture network, expand drought information and forecasts, and fund targeted pilots in under‑observed regions. The bill raises support for Federal streamgages and sets priorities for new gages in drought‑ and flood‑vulnerable areas. It also allows NIDIS to waive cost shares in certain cases and funds assessments and data improvements to help water managers and farmers.
AI and Weather Data Overhaul
If enacted, the bill would fund large AI and data efforts to improve forecasts. It would create an Earth System Forecasting program and authorize $311,000,000 for FY2026 and $76,000,000 for each FY2027–FY2030. NOAA would build public, cloud-ready modeling systems and a NOAA Data Lake, run a Commercial Data Pilot with an ombudsman, and study data practices. The agency would try to make redistributable AI models and federal data public, but could limit access for national security or intellectual property reasons and must report on foreign‑access risks within one year.
Better Aviation Weather Forecasts
If enacted, the National Weather Service would expand aviation forecasts to include turbulence, icing, and route‑specific needs. NOAA and FAA would form an interagency agreement for at least five years with fair compensation from FAA to NOAA. NOAA would buy and analyze airborne observations, and the agency must brief Congress within 90 days and then every 90 days through December 31, 2030.
Better Hurricane and Tornado Science
If enacted, the bill would fund and continue major programs to improve hurricane and tornado forecasting. It would reauthorize VORTEX‑USA at $11,000,000 per year for FY2026–FY2030 with at least $2,000,000 per year for grants to eligible institutions. The Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program would continue, include probabilistic hazard mapping and transition grants, and require annual reports through 2029.
Bigger national HAB program and testing
If enacted, NOAA would expand the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program to add monitoring, forecasting, and a national HAB observing network. The bill would require recurring scientific assessments and regional action strategies, support toxin testing access for rural areas, and require pilot chemical testing methods to verify seafood country of origin with reports to Congress within two years.
More Local Radars and Observations
If enacted, NOAA would plan and begin replacing the national radar network under a new Radar Next program and work to fill data gaps by 2040. The bill would maintain and expand a National Mesonet Program to get denser, local observations and support precipitation and atmospheric‑river forecast programs, with a program plan due within 270 days for atmospheric rivers. The U.S. Geological Survey would start a Next Generation Water Observing System with $30,000,000 for FY2026 in 10 initial basins to improve real‑time water data for floods and droughts.
Move NWS Forecast Systems to Cloud
If enacted, the bill would require NOAA to move the NWS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) to an operational cloud by September 30, 2030. It would require an assessment and plan for the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and a report to Congress within two years listing needed funding. The NWS would also be allowed short pilots to test cloud decision support and to study how to scale those pilots; that pilot authority would end two years after enactment.
New Harmful Algae Grants and Incubator
If enacted, NOAA would run a national Harmful Algal Bloom incubator with EPA and universities to fund research, tests, and scaling of bloom‑control tools. The program would award merit grants from NOAA grant funds, keep a database of permitting and costs, and prioritize projects that help low‑income, tribal, and rural communities. EPA would also carry out freshwater HAB research and build monitoring and forecasting for lakes, rivers, and reservoirs while coordinating with NOAA.
Stronger Fire Weather and Response
If enacted, the bill would create a Fire Ready Nation suite with a public digital platform, a Fire Weather Services Program Plan due within 18 months, and an Incident Meteorologist Service to provide on‑site impact‑based support. NOAA must do workforce and support assessments and submit matching budgets with the President's budget. The bill authorizes stepped appropriations for the Incident Meteorologist/Fire program from $15,000,000 in FY2026 to $50,000,000 in FY2030 and prohibits unnecessary duplication with certain Infrastructure Act activities.
Stronger Local Warning Systems
If enacted, the bill would fund NOAA Weather Radio operations and modernization and require several alerting studies. It would authorize $25,000,000 per year for NOAA Weather Radio for FY2026–FY2031 and $100,000,000 in FY2026 for modernization. NOAA must assess Weather Radio access within one year. The GAO must report on NWS alert systems within 18 months. The bill also directs standards for flash flood emergency alerts and a tsunami watches and warnings assessment, each with reports to Congress within two years.
Tsunami funding for states and research
If enacted, NOAA would get $30 million per year for FY2026–FY2030 for tsunami warning, research, and education. At least 27% of each year's funding must go to State‑level mitigation activities and at least 8% must go to tsunami research.
Commercial data and contracting changes
If enacted, NOAA would be required to compare federal and commercial satellite and observation options and report on early‑morning polar or commercial acquisitions. The Under Secretary must assess commercial observation pilots each year and, if viable, integrate those services into operations within one year. NOAA would be allowed to use multiyear contracts and partner with multiple observation providers to reduce data gaps while coordinating payment and data stewardship across agencies.
Mapping and groundwater assessment updates
If enacted, the bill would update the 3D Elevation Program to include derivative products, require data processing and integration, add hydrography coordination, and extend authorizations through 2034. It would also add permafrost thaw and precipitation changes to authorized groundwater quality assessments.
Maritime and Pacific technical assistance
If enacted, the Department of Defense and Coast Guard could provide maritime technical help to partner nations to fight illegal fishing using DoD operation and maintenance funds. The bill would also let NOAA provide technical assistance and services to Pacific Island parties using existing NOAA programs, subject to available appropriations and Commerce Department discretion.
More wildfire coordination with NOAA
If enacted, NOAA would be added to the list of agencies consulted on wildfire technology and required to be consulted when developing impact‑based decision support services. The bill also clarifies what NOAA's impact‑based decision support services include.
New Heat Health Information System
If enacted, the bill would create a National Integrated Heat Health Information System inside NOAA to improve heat forecasts, warnings, and decision tools. It would set up an interagency committee and authorize $5,000,000 per year for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to run the program and cover administrative costs.
NOAA planning and budget transparency
If enacted, the Under Secretary would publish a prioritized list of NOAA unfunded priorities each year shortly after the President's budget. The bill would also require a consolidated research and research‑to‑operations plan at least every two years to set forecasting goals and technology transfer steps.
Pay Ships to Collect Ocean Data
If enacted, NOAA could contract research or commercial ships to collect oceanographic and atmospheric observations, including in the Arctic. Data must meet current standards. NOAA must report to Congress on global shipboard network needs within five years. The pilot authority would end by September 30, 2030 or one year after that report is submitted.
Storm Surveys and Drone Response
If enacted, NOAA would conduct post‑storm surveys after major hazardous weather events and make survey data public as soon as practicable. NOAA would be allowed to use uncrewed aerial systems for damage assessments and to buy and train partners on UAS. The bill would also require employee support and counseling for staff who do surveys.
Research fleet rules and cybersecurity plan
If enacted, the law would clarify which ships count as the U.S. Academic Research Fleet and require the NSF Director to submit a cybersecurity and telecommunications plan for the fleet within one year. The plan must follow CISA/NIST guidance, list needs like telemedicine and real‑time data streaming, estimate costs, and include timelines.
New regional landslide programs and grants
If enacted, the bill would expand landslide grants and create regional research partnerships in high‑hazard areas. It would authorize $35 million through 2030 and set aside at least $10 million for early‑warning systems. The bill would also require hazard databases to flag areas needing more study and include a funding rule that limits which agency funds may be used and directs cancelled appropriations to the general fund.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Dan Sullivan
AK • R
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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