NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7813

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-18: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Last Updated

2026-05-27T15:35:28Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 7813: NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act

Purpose

This bill aims to enhance public safety by updating and expanding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) weather radio system. It focuses on delivering timely weather warnings, especially in high-risk or underserved areas, and ensures NOAA has adequate staff to support these efforts. The legislation builds on the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to make weather information more reliable and accessible during emergencies.

Key Provisions

• NOAA Weather Radio Network (Section 2):
• Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA's leader) to maintain a nationwide, 24/7 weather radio system that broadcasts weather forecasts, emergency warnings (like tornadoes or flash floods), and geological hazards (e.g., tsunamis, wildfires, or landslides).
• The system must be resilient to disruptions like power outages or cellular failures.
• Emphasizes ongoing maintenance of existing equipment, particularly in areas with poor cell service.
• Launches a modernization program to:
• Improve how risks from severe weather are communicated to encourage public action.
• Expand coverage to high-risk zones for fast-developing disasters (short-fuse warnings like tornadoes), rural communities without broadband internet or local alert systems, and federal lands (e.g., national parks or forests).
• Integrate with the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for non-weather emergencies.
• Add new transmitters, satellite broadcasting, internet-based alerts (e.g., via cloud technology), and research for location-specific warnings.
• Upgrade infrastructure, software for precise alerts (e.g., county-level notifications), data accessibility, backup options (like satellite or partnerships with private companies), and secure sites for equipment.
• Requires an assessment within one year of enactment on access to the system, including stakeholder input (e.g., from weather apps and emergency agencies), recommendations for better management, redundancy for broadcasts, inter-agency coordination, and risks from events like electromagnetic pulses.
• Authorizes $20 million annually from fiscal years 2026 to 2031 for operations and $100 million in 2026 (available until spent) for modernization.
• Moves the existing Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program (which recognizes community preparedness) to a new title in the 2017 Act.

• Standards for Flash Flood Warnings (Section 3):
• Allows the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology (from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST) to help develop national standards for emergency alert systems in 100-year floodplains (areas with a 1% annual flood risk).
• Standards must address needs of communities lacking broadband, local warnings, or satellite coverage, ensuring reliable alerts during hazards.
• Requires a report to congressional committees within two years summarizing any developed standards.

• Employee Classification and Staffing Plans (Section 4):
• Directs classification of key NOAA roles (e.g., meteorologists, hydrologists, physical scientists, electronics technicians, IT specialists) as "protective service occupations" (jobs critical to public safety, like first responders) under federal occupational standards.
• Prohibits staffing changes (e.g., hires, transfers, or reductions) in these roles without 30 days' notice to congressional committees, unless committees approve earlier.
• Mandates a five-year staffing plan for the National Weather Service (NWS) and related NOAA positions focused on data collection, equipment maintenance, IT systems, forecasting models, and research to improve warnings.

• Public Safety Staffing at NWS (Section 5):
• Requires the NWS Director to assess critical staffing needs within 120 days, covering every Weather Forecast Office and Center Weather Service Unit (aviation-focused weather units). The assessment includes ideal staff numbers by job type, historical vacancies, and factors like safety, morale, seasonal demands, and regional weather complexity.
• Grants "direct hire authority" to the NWS Director, bypassing standard federal hiring rules (e.g., competitive exams), to quickly fill vacancies in public safety roles like meteorologists or technicians. This authority ends once all identified needs are met.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new Title VII to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, dedicated to NOAA Weather Radio, including operational requirements, modernization mandates, and funding authorizations not previously specified.
• Relocates and redesignates the Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program from Section 407 to the new title.
• Inserts new Section 407 on employee classification and staffing plans into Title IV of the 2017 Act.
• Introduces novel elements like mandatory assessments, direct hire powers for NWS, and standards development for flood alerts, which expand beyond the 2017 Act's focus on general weather research and forecasting improvements.
• Updates clerical elements, such as table of contents, for clarity.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: NOAA and NWS will face increased responsibilities for system upgrades, assessments, and reporting, potentially straining resources but supported by new funding. NIST may collaborate on standards, and agencies like the General Services Administration could assist with infrastructure. This could improve coordination with emergency response bodies (e.g., FEMA via IPAWS).
• Citizens: Enhances access to life-saving warnings in rural, flood-prone, or remote areas without modern tech, potentially reducing deaths and property damage from severe weather. Broader integration of alerts (e.g., via apps or satellites) could make information more usable for the public.
• International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though improved U.S. weather resilience could indirectly support global efforts on climate hazards (e.g., sharing data on geomagnetic storms), as NOAA contributes to international meteorological networks.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• NOAA and NWS Employees: Meteorologists, hydrologists, technicians, and IT staff benefit from protected classifications, faster hiring, and planned staffing to address vacancies.
• Public in Vulnerable Areas: Residents in high-risk zones for tornadoes, floods, or wildfires; rural communities without broadband; visitors to federal lands.
• Weather Enterprise: Private sector (e.g., app developers, broadcasters) providing weather services, who will offer input on accessibility and partnerships for backups.
• Emergency Managers and Communities: Local governments, especially in floodplains, gaining from standardized alerts and resilient systems.
• Congressional Committees: House Science, Space, and Technology; Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation, with oversight via reports and notices.
• General Public: All U.S. residents through a more robust national warning network.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Authorizes specific funding but does not appropriate it, so Congress must approve budgets separately. Direct hire authority streamlines federal hiring (under Title 5, U.S. Code) for public safety but is temporary and targeted, avoiding broad civil service reforms. Classifications as "protective service" could grant these roles enhanced job protections similar to law enforcement.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause authority over interstate warnings and national security (e.g., resilient systems against electromagnetic threats). No apparent conflicts with free speech or privacy, as it focuses on government broadcasts.
• Political: Emphasizes equity for underserved areas, potentially appealing across parties for disaster preparedness amid rising climate risks. Requires congressional notifications for staffing, enhancing oversight but possibly slowing administrative changes. The bill's bipartisan sponsors (from various regions) suggest broad support for NOAA's mission in protecting lives and property.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

Cosponsors (4)

Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-18: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
• 2026-03-18: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2026-03-05: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
• 2026-03-05: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act — issued 2026-03-05 — PDF (16 pages)