H.R. 5089

Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025

Sponsor: Frank D. Lucas

26 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2025 or the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025

This bill reauthorizes, revises, and establishes several programs related to weather forecasting, monitoring, and research. 

For example, the bill reauthorizes through FY2030 programs that are administered by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including the U.S. Weather Research Program. It also provides statutory authority for NOAA's Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (known as VORTEX-USA).

The bill also requires NOAA to establish programs that support weather forecasting technology, including improvements to radar accuracy, weather forecasting in underserved areas, and coastal flooding forecasting. NOAA must also acquire weather-related data from the private sector and establish a pilot program to test the compatibility of this data with NOAA infrastructure. 

In addition, NOAA must improve weather-related communication systems, including those related to hazardous weather events, through system upgrades that use more modern technology (e.g., cloud-based services) and that allow for expanded coverage (e.g., in rural areas).

Finally, NOAA must administer programs that support weather forecasting for agricultural and water management, including pilot programs to improve precipitation forecasts in the western and central states and a soil moisture monitoring network. 

Text of the bill

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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents

(a) Short title. This Act may be cited as the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2025 or the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025.

(b) Table of contents. The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. Title I—Reauthorization of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 Sec. 101. Public safety priority. Sec. 102. United States weather research and forecasting. Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX). Sec. 104. Hurricane forecast improvement program. Sec. 105. Tsunami Warning and Education Act reauthorization. Sec. 106. Observing system planning. Sec. 107. Observing system simulation experiments. Sec. 108. Computing resources prioritization. Sec. 109. Earth prediction innovation center. Sec. 110. Satellite architecture planning. Sec. 111. Improving uncrewed activities. Sec. 112. Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services. Sec. 113. Ocean observations. Sec. 114. Consolidation of reports. Sec. 115. Certain definitions under Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act. Sec. 116. Reauthorization of National Landslide Preparedness Act. Sec. 117. Amendments to Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998. Title II—Enhancing Federal Weather Forecasting and Innovation Sec. 201. Weather innovation for the next generation. Sec. 202. Next generation radar. Sec. 203. Data voids in highly vulnerable areas of the United States. Sec. 204. Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program. Sec. 205. Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program. Sec. 206. Aviation weather and data innovation. Sec. 207. NESDIS joint venture partnership transition program. Sec. 208. Advanced weather interactive processing system. Sec. 209. Reanalysis and reforecasting. Sec. 210. National Weather Service workforce. Title III—Commercial Weather and Environmental Observations Sec. 301. Commercial Data Program. Sec. 302. Commercial Data Pilot Program. Sec. 303. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication. Sec. 304. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices. Sec. 305. Clerical amendment. Title IV—Communicating Weather to the Public Sec. 401. Definitions. Sec. 402. Hazardous weather or water event risk communication. Sec. 403. Hazard communication research and engagement. Sec. 404. National Weather Service communications improvement. Sec. 405. NOAA Weather Radio modernization. Sec. 406. Post-storm surveys and assessments. Sec. 407. Government Accountability Office report on alert dissemination for hazardous weather or water events. Sec. 408. Data collection management and protection. Title V—Improving Weather Information for Agriculture and Water Management Sec. 501. Weather and climate information in agriculture and water management. Sec. 502. National Integrated Drought Information System. Sec. 503. National Mesonet Program. Sec. 504. National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network. Sec. 505. National water center. Sec. 506. Satellite transfers report. Sec. 507. Precipitation forecast improvement program.

I Reauthorization of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017

II Enhancing Federal Weather Forecasting and Innovation

III Commercial Weather and Environmental Observations

IV Communicating Weather to the Public

V Improving Weather Information for Agriculture and Water Management