Fire Weather Development Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4075

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-23: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Last Updated

2025-11-18T09:05:14Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Fire Weather Development Act of 2025 aims to enhance the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to forecast and detect fire weather (weather conditions that affect wildfire start, spread, and behavior) and fire environments (broader environmental factors like soil moisture and topography that influence fires and smoke). It seeks to improve collaboration with federal, state, and local partners to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, and economic losses from wildfires.

Key Provisions

• Fire Weather Forecasting and Detection Program (Section 2): NOAA must establish a program to develop accurate forecasts, warnings, and tools for wildfires. Goals include predicting fire ignition and spread, monitoring smoke, early detection, and addressing wildland-urban interface fires (areas where urban development meets wildlands). Activities cover research, sensing technologies (e.g., satellites, aircraft), data sharing, education, and novel tools. NOAA will collaborate with non-federal researchers via grants and may contract private entities for data. It includes unmanned aircraft systems (drones) for observations, with a $5 million authorization for fiscal year 2026, and prohibits procuring drones from "foreign countries of concern" (e.g., certain nations posing security risks) unless exempted for science purposes.

• Interagency Coordinating Committee on Wildfires (Section 3): Establishes a committee chaired by NOAA's Administrator, including leaders from agencies like FEMA, USDA Forest Service, NASA, and USGS. It coordinates wildfire forecasting efforts, develops a strategic plan within one year (covering objectives, infrastructure, and agency roles), and promotes interagency agreements and international/academic collaboration to avoid duplication.

• National Advisory Committee on Wildfires (Section 4): A non-federal advisory group (7-15 members from academia, emergency management, states, tribes, etc.) to assess forecasting tools, communication, and committee effectiveness. It reports biennially to the Office of Science and Technology Policy and terminates in 2029. Members serve without pay and must avoid conflicts of interest.

• Fire Weather Testbed (Section 5): NOAA must create a testbed for evaluating and transitioning new technologies, models, and products to operational use among federal, state, local, academic, and private partners. Authorizes $4 million annually from fiscal years 2026-2029, without diverting existing resources.

• Incident Meteorologist Workforce (Section 6): Requires NOAA to assess National Weather Service staffing and training needs for incident meteorologists (experts who provide weather support during fire responses) within six months, including hiring projections and alternatives. Amends federal pay laws to exclude wildfire-related overtime from caps, allowing higher earnings, and adds the National Weather Service to overtime rate provisions.

• Research on Wildland Fire Communications (Section 7): Directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to research communication standards and real-time data sharing for firefighters and officials. Includes field testing and recommendations to agencies, with reports to Congress and a Government Accountability Office review of implementation within one year.

• Definitions (Section 8): Clarifies terms like "fire weather," "fire environment," "unmanned aircraft system," and "foreign country of concern."

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 5542(a)(5) and Section 5547 of Title 5, United States Code, to expand overtime pay eligibility and remove caps for National Weather Service incident meteorologists during wildfire emergencies, similar to provisions for other agencies like Interior and Agriculture.
• Introduces new mandates for NOAA programs, interagency committees, and advisory bodies not previously required by law.
• Adds procurement restrictions on unmanned aircraft systems from foreign countries of concern, with waivers possible via Homeland Security consultation.
• Waives certain administrative requirements for the advisory committee's charter under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Enhances coordination among NOAA, Forest Service, FEMA, and others, potentially improving response efficiency but requiring new budgets (e.g., $5 million for drones, $4 million/year for testbed). May increase workload for reporting and collaboration.
• Citizens: Better forecasts and warnings could save lives, reduce injuries, and protect homes/property in wildfire-prone areas, especially at wildland-urban interfaces. Improved smoke predictions aid public health by informing air quality alerts.
• International Relations: Encourages limited international engagement on research and data, but drone restrictions may strain ties with certain countries; no major geopolitical shifts anticipated.
• Economy: Reduces wildfire-related costs (e.g., suppression, damage) through early detection and tools for land managers, utilities, and infrastructure operators.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: NOAA (lead role), USDA Forest Service, Department of Interior, NASA, USGS, FEMA, NIST, and Office of Science and Technology Policy.
• State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Emergency managers, fire departments, and land managers benefiting from tailored forecasts and communications.
• Private Sector and Academia: Weather industry, technology manufacturers, universities, and nonprofits involved in research, grants, and data contracts.
• Citizens and Communities: Residents in fire-risk areas, wildland firefighters, and critical infrastructure operators (e.g., energy utilities) gaining from warnings and risk outreach.
• Non-Governmental Entities: National Association of State Foresters and public broadcasters for advisory input and dissemination.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens federal authority in disaster prediction without infringing on state rights, emphasizing collaboration. Drone prohibitions align with national security laws (e.g., referencing defense authorizations), with built-in waivers to balance science needs and oversight via congressional notifications.
• Constitutional: Supports the federal government's role in interstate commerce and public safety under the Commerce Clause, with no apparent conflicts to free speech or privacy; advisory committee ensures diverse input without federal employee dominance.
• Political: Promotes bipartisan wildfire preparedness amid climate concerns, authorizing funds without mandating appropriations (subject to congressional approval). Biennial reports and GAO reviews enhance accountability, potentially influencing future budgets and policies on environmental monitoring.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large], Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-23: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
• 2025-06-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-06-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Fire Weather Development Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-23 — PDF (24 pages)