HR5089119th CongressWALLET

Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Lucas

In Committee

Summary

This bill would reauthorize and modernize NOAA weather research to strengthen forecasting, observations, and hazard communication across storms, tsunamis, floods, harmful algal blooms, and aviation. It focuses on more data, open community models, social and behavioral science, and new computing and satellite planning to speed research into operations and improve public warnings.

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  • Families and coastal communities: Would fund better forecasts and clearer risk messages for hurricanes, tornadoes, atmospheric rivers, coastal flooding, tsunamis, and harmful algal blooms. It includes dedicated authorizations like $30 million per year for tsunami programs and $27.5 million per year for HAB activities to support detection, mapping, and outreach.
  • Emergency managers and users: Would modernize warning tools and delivery systems. Provisions require an AWIPS cloud plan, replacement of NWSChat, NOAA Weather Radio upgrades, and aviation data buys including up to $10 million per year for aircraft observations and turbulence improvements.
  • Scientists, compute centers, and industry: Would create an Earth Prediction Innovation Center and a NOAA Data Lake, expand a DOE-linked computing research initiative, and fund demonstration/transition programs including $50.3 million per year for subseasonal pilots and $20 million per year for NESDIS transition efforts.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

13 provisions identified: 13 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Expand harmful algal bloom response

If enacted, NOAA would run a national HAB observing and forecasting network, a data center, and a tech incubator with universities. Congress is authorized to provide $27.5 million each year (FY2026–FY2030), and up to $2 million would be available until spent for big event assessments. The HAB Task Force would submit a detailed strategy at least every five years. The bill would broaden HAB definitions, add the Department of Energy, allow Army agreements to use or sell new removal tech, and direct EPA to build freshwater HAB research and tools.

Five‑year funding for NOAA research

If enacted, NOAA’s research office would receive fixed funding from $163,794,000 in FY2026 to $170,444,000 in FY2030, with amounts set for key subprograms. The bill states no additional funds are authorized beyond these amounts.

Funding for local weather sensor networks

If enacted, NOAA would fund the National Mesonet Program at $50 million (FY2026), $55 million (FY2027), $61 million (FY2028), $68 million (FY2029), and $70 million (FY2030). Up to 15% each year could be grants to state, Tribal, private, and university partners that share data and keep systems running for at least five years. Priority would go to at least one underrepresented or remote area.

Modernize NOAA computing and models

If enacted, NOAA would move its forecast workstation system (AWIPS) to the cloud by September 30, 2030 and replace NWSChat with a public‑cloud tool by October 1, 2027 (up to $3 million per year, FY2026–FY2030). It would build public research models and a NOAA Data Lake to speed testing and open access to forecast data. A joint initiative with the Department of Energy would provide advanced computing awards and end five years after enactment. NOAA could set up Centers of Excellence for AI/ML and support reanalysis and reforecasting to improve forecast skill.

More weather data from private partners

If enacted, NOAA would create a $100 million‑per‑year Commercial Data Program to buy weather data, set open standards within 180 days, and fund pilots with at least 15% of the money. It would also buy aircraft weather data (up to $10 million per year) and run ship data pilots, with a report due in five years. A satellite joint venture would get $20 million per year (FY2026–FY2030) to move research into operations. The bill would set open data and metadata rules and keep archives at NCEI, and require a one‑year report on an early‑morning polar‑orbit satellite option.

Plan to replace U.S. weather radars

If enacted, NOAA would plan to replace the NEXRAD radar system and finish by September 30, 2040. It could use Radar‑as‑a‑Service to fill coverage gaps and test commercial options, in consultation with the FAA. A new R&D program would find and test fixes for radar interference, report within two years, give a final recommendation within five years, and end by September 30, 2030 or one year after the final recommendation.

Stronger flood and water forecasts

If enacted, the National Water Center would be strengthened and funded at $46 million per year (FY2026–FY2030). NOAA would launch programs to improve atmospheric river, precipitation, and coastal flood and storm‑surge forecasts and deliver probabilistic guides for planners and emergency managers. It would also run two subseasonal pilots for western water and central U.S. agriculture, funded at $50.3 million per year (FY2026–FY2030). A national soil moisture network would be funded at $15 million (FY2026), rising to $17 million (FY2030).

Stronger weather alerts and messaging

If enacted, NOAA would keep public safety first and improve how it shares warnings and decision support. It would run a program to cut confusing terms and test better messages, and it would do post‑storm surveys, share the data quickly, and skip some paperwork rules during surveys. It would pilot new tornado and hurricane risk messages and post methods online. NOAA Weather Radio would expand coverage, add transmitters for rural and park areas, enable partial‑county alerts, and complete a one‑year distribution and backup study.

Clearer flood and landslide definitions

If enacted, the flood support law would clearly cover hurricanes, atmospheric rivers, and extreme precipitation events. The landslide law would add new partners and require the next national strategy to assess flood‑related landslide risks. The landslide database would add hydrology changes, atmospheric river and extreme precipitation events, and data‑poor areas.

Better tornado and hurricane forecasts

If enacted, NOAA would fund tornado research with partners to improve lead time, use probabilistic guidance, train forecasters, and study rating updates. It would also keep the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program to improve rapid‑intensity and track prediction, hazard maps, and inland flood and surge communication. Both programs would support grants and send yearly budget plans to Congress.

Better tsunami maps and outreach

If enacted, NOAA would expand tsunami inundation mapping, build coastal elevation models, and study sediment and debris impacts on ports and lifelines. The program would add GNSS sensors, stress timeliness and accuracy, and improve data management and archiving. Local forecast offices would do more education and outreach to help coastal communities prepare.

NWS hiring and health reviews

If enacted, the NWS Director would send a yearly hiring and onboarding assessment to NOAA and Congress. An outside study would review health effects from rotating shift work. The Director could name a service hydrologist at each office without adding new full‑time positions and must support training and counseling for staff who do post‑storm surveys.

Stronger federal weather coordination

If enacted, an interagency meteorology council would be renamed and co‑chaired by OSTP and NOAA. It would keep a data inventory, ask private firms for updates each year for five years, and share that data with member agencies. A new coordination office would support the council, and agencies could share costs.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lucas

OK • R

Cosponsors

  • Lofgren

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Babin

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Bonamici

    OR • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Weber (TX)

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Stevens

    MI • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Fleischmann

    TN • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Ross

    NC • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Franklin, Scott

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Foushee

    NC • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Haridopolos

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Whitesides

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Miller (OH)

    OH • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Amo

    RI • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rouzer

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • McBride

    DE • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Tenney

    NY • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Frost

    FL • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • McClain Delaney

    MD • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Friedman

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • McCormick

    GA • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Moore (NC)

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2025

  • Gillen

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/10/2025

  • Bost

    IL • R

    Sponsored 9/19/2025

  • Baird

    IN • R

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Vindman

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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