TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2770

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Last Updated

2026-02-04T05:06:15Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Transformational Artificial Intelligence to Modernize the Economy against Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act" (TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act) aims to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into weather forecasting, wildfire prediction, and related environmental monitoring. The goal is to improve predictions of extreme weather events and wildfires, enhance public preparedness, and advance scientific understanding while building on existing federal efforts.

Key Provisions

The bill outlines several directives for NOAA, in coordination with other agencies, to leverage AI for environmental forecasting:

• Definitions (Section 2): Establishes clear terms, such as "artificial intelligence" (machine-based systems that predict or decide based on data, including machine learning and neural networks), "artificial intelligence weather model" (AI-driven projections using historical data), "curate" (collecting and maintaining high-quality datasets with metadata), "numerical weather model" (traditional computation-based forecasts), and others like "observational data" (real-world measurements), "synthetic data" (model-generated data to fill gaps), and "reforecast analysis" (comparing past model outputs to real observations for validation).

• Earth System Forecasting and Information Delivery (Section 3): Requires NOAA, within two years, to develop and maintain comprehensive datasets for weather forecasting, including past weather records, to support AI model training, seasonal forecasting, and public information dissemination. NOAA may create and test global AI weather models, explore AI for better public alerts and resilience, and report annually to Congress. It emphasizes using existing federal datasets, funding cooperative research institutes, minimizing AI's environmental footprint (e.g., energy use), and continuing support for traditional data collection, research, and numerical models.

• Advanced AI Applications for Weather and Information Delivery (Section 4): Directs NOAA to investigate AI uses like improving data integration into models, emulating traditional models for faster forecasts, and enhancing community decision-making tools based on weather predictions.

• Technical Assistance on AI Weather Models (Section 5): Mandates NOAA to evaluate non-federal AI models, provide guidance and best practices for their use alongside traditional models, support testing in NOAA facilities, and aid emergency managers. It requires a framework for "reforecast analysis" to assess models, collaboration with agencies like NIST and NASA, a report on improving long-term forecasts, and delivery through local weather offices. NOAA may commission an independent study on AI's effects on the weather sector.

• Fire Environment Modeling Program (Section 6): Within one year, NOAA must launch an AI-based program, coordinated with Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security departments, to analyze environmental data for wildfire warnings, detection, spread prediction, and smoke monitoring. This includes curating AI training datasets from observations and synthetic sources, acquiring data via contracts, integrating weather models, and addressing AI's environmental impacts.

• Partnerships for Transformational Innovation (Section 7): Encourages NOAA to form new partnership models with private and academic entities to advance AI in forecasting weather, water, wildfires, and space weather. This includes co-investment in high-risk research, shared intellectual property rights, and transitioning AI innovations to operational use.

• Federal Government Workforce Expertise (Section 8): Requires NOAA to build and train a skilled workforce in AI for weather applications, using public-private collaborations for professional development.

• Data Access (Section 9): Allows NOAA to publicly release data and code developed under the Act for free under open licenses (permitting broad reuse), with exceptions to protect national security, intellectual property, trade secrets, contracts, or public safety.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill introduces new mandates for AI integration into NOAA's operations, building on prior laws like the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (which defines the "weather enterprise" as stakeholders in weather services). It does not repeal or amend existing statutes directly but adds requirements for AI-specific datasets, models, and partnerships. Notably, it ensures continued funding and advancement of traditional numerical models and observational data collection, preventing a shift away from established methods. It also incorporates open licensing standards from federal information policy (44 U.S.C. § 3502) and protects data under existing laws like the Freedom of Information Act exemptions (5 U.S.C. § 552).

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Enhances NOAA's forecasting capabilities through AI, requiring interagency coordination (e.g., with NASA, DOE, NSF) and potential new funding for contracts, institutes, and workforce training. It may increase administrative burdens for reporting and data curation but streamlines innovation via partnerships.

• Citizens: Improves access to more accurate, timely warnings for extreme weather and wildfires, potentially saving lives, reducing property damage, and boosting community resilience. Public release of data and tools could empower local responders and individuals in vulnerable areas.

• International Relations: Focuses on domestic applications but could indirectly strengthen U.S. leadership in global weather modeling through advanced AI datasets and shared best practices, without direct foreign policy changes.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: NOAA (lead role), Department of Commerce (oversight), NASA, DOE, NSF, Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security (coordination on data and wildfires).
• Private Sector and Academia: Weather enterprises (e.g., forecasting companies, researchers), cooperative institutes, and tech firms benefiting from partnerships, co-investments, and open data access.
• Public and Communities: Citizens in wildfire-prone or weather-vulnerable regions, emergency managers, firefighters, and forecasters who gain from improved predictions and technical support.
• Scientific Community: Researchers advancing AI, weather modeling, and environmental science through curated datasets and evaluation frameworks.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Promotes open data release under existing federal guidelines but includes safeguards for intellectual property (e.g., copyrights under 17 U.S.C., patents under 35 U.S.C.) and confidential information, aligning with transparency laws while protecting proprietary interests. It authorizes contracts and funding without mandating appropriations, leaving budget decisions to Congress.

• Constitutional: No direct challenges; supports the federal government's role in commerce and general welfare (e.g., protecting lives from disasters) under Article I, Section 8, and does not infringe on states' rights, though it may involve state-local integration via weather offices.

• Political: Encourages bipartisan priorities like disaster resilience and innovation, with potential for economic benefits through AI-driven efficiencies. It balances public-private collaboration, which could spark debates on federal investment in emerging tech versus traditional methods, but emphasizes neutrality in model evaluation to avoid favoring AI over proven numerical approaches.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
• 2025-04-09: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Transformational Artificial intelligence to Modernize the Economy against Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (15 pages)