A bill to amend the Digital Coast Act to improve the acquisition, integration, and accessibility of data of the Digital Coast program and to extend the program.
- Bill Number
- S. 2245
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-03: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, S. 2245, amends the Digital Coast Act to enhance the collection, combining, and public access to coastal data through the Digital Coast program, while extending the program's authorization until 2030. The Digital Coast program, managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), supports coastal management, resilience, and economic activities by providing geospatial (location-based) data and tools.
Key Provisions
- Data Accessibility: Requires that program data be not only readily accessible but also fully and freely available to the public.
- Expanded Data Scope: Includes specific types of data in the program's priorities, such as information on underground infrastructure (e.g., pipes and cables) and subsurface utilities (e.g., buried power lines or water systems).
- Training Limitations: Restricts program trainings to focus solely on technical guidance for using the provided data and tools, excluding broader educational topics.
- Program Extension: Extends the authorization of the Digital Coast program from 2025 to 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 4 of the Digital Coast Act (16 U.S.C. 1467):
- Subsection (b)(1): Adds emphasis on free availability of data, going beyond mere accessibility.
- Subsection (d)(3): Broadens data inclusion to cover underground and subsurface elements, and adjusts punctuation to allow for an additional priority item (implied by striking "and" in subparagraph (H)).
- Subsection (d)(4): Changes the ending punctuation to enable the addition of a new paragraph.
- Subsection (d): Adds a new paragraph (5) to limit trainings to technical aspects only.
- Subsection (g): Updates the sunset date from 2025 to 2030, preventing the program's expiration.
These changes build on the original Act's framework for integrating coastal data but introduce more explicit requirements for openness, specificity, and focus.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: NOAA and other federal entities involved in coastal management will need to expand data collection efforts, particularly for infrastructure-related information, potentially increasing operational costs but improving inter-agency data sharing for disaster response and planning.
- Citizens and Local Communities: Enhanced free access to comprehensive coastal data could empower state, local, and tribal governments, as well as individuals, to better prepare for hazards like flooding or erosion, supporting economic activities such as shipping and tourism.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though improved U.S. coastal data could indirectly aid cross-border collaborations on shared marine issues, like with Canada or Mexico, without altering foreign policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primarily NOAA, which administers the program, along with departments handling infrastructure (e.g., Department of Transportation) and emergency management (e.g., FEMA).
- State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Benefit from expanded data for planning and resilience efforts in coastal areas.
- Private Sector and Public: Businesses in coastal industries (e.g., energy, real estate) and citizens in vulnerable regions gain from freer access to tools and data for decision-making.
- Non-Profits and Researchers: Organizations focused on environmental protection or geospatial analysis will have better resources for studies and advocacy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens public access requirements under existing environmental data laws, potentially setting precedents for open data mandates in federal programs; the training limitation clarifies boundaries to avoid mission creep.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges to rights like free speech or property, but aligns with the government's role in promoting general welfare through science-based public services (Article I, Section 8).
- Political: Bipartisan support implied by Senate passage; extends a program seen as non-controversial for coastal protection, potentially influencing future budgets for climate resilience without major partisan divides.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-03: Held at the desk.
- 2026-03-03: Received in the House.
- 2026-03-03: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2026-02-26: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S715-716; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S716)
- 2026-02-26: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-01-30: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 310.
- 2026-01-30: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-100.
- 2026-01-30: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-100.
- 2025-10-21: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2025-07-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-07-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- An Act To amend the Digital Coast Act to improve the acquisition, integration, and accessibility of data of the Digital Coast program and to extend the program. — issued 2026-02-26 — PDF (4 pages)
- To amend the Digital Coast Act to improve the acquisition, integration, and accessibility of data of the Digital Coast program and to extend the program. — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (2 pages)
- To amend the Digital Coast Act to improve the acquisition, integration, and accessibility of data of the Digital Coast program and to extend the program. — issued 2026-01-30 — PDF (4 pages)