Radar Next Program Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 3795
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-03T21:19:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Radar Next Program Act of 2026 (S. 3795)
Purpose
This legislation establishes the Radar Next Program to update the United States weather radar network by replacing the existing Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) system. The goal is to improve performance, coverage, and accuracy for weather detection and forecasting across the United States and its territories.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: Directs the Under Secretary (of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere) to create the Radar Next Program in consultation with the National Weather Service Director.
- Requirements for the Program:
- Develop performance and coverage standards for the national weather radar network.
- Collaborate with the weather enterprise to identify replacement solutions.
- Create a detailed plan for NEXRAD replacement that includes:
- Quantifiable estimates of improvements in performance and accuracy.
- Development and testing of phased array radar technology.
- Actions to implement recommendations from a 2023 NOAA report on observing systems.
- A weather surveillance radar testbed for evaluating commercial radars and supporting small gap-filling radars.
- Input from academia, meteorologists, emergency managers, and public safety officials.
- Prioritized deployment locations, including sites more than 75 miles from existing NEXRAD stations.
- Expected enhancements to weather and water-related forecasts.
- Implementation Timeline: Requires the plan to be fully implemented by September 30, 2040.
- Radar-As-A-Service Option: Allows partnerships or contracts with external entities to address data gaps using commercial radars, data assimilation technologies, and weather camera systems (in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration).
- Congressional Oversight: Mandates periodic updates to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Definitions: References terms from the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new federal program for weather radar modernization without directly amending prior statutes.
- Establishes binding requirements and a long-term procurement deadline for replacing the NEXRAD system.
- Authorizes public-private partnerships for radar data supplementation, expanding beyond traditional government-operated systems.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service in planning, testing, and procurement, potentially requiring additional resources and coordination.
- Citizens: Aims to enhance weather radar coverage in underserved areas, which could improve detection of severe weather and precipitation, supporting better forecasts and warnings.
- International Relations: No direct provisions address international aspects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: NOAA, National Weather Service, and related entities responsible for implementation.
- Weather Enterprise: Includes academia, meteorologists, and private sector partners involved in collaboration and service provision.
- Public Safety and Local Entities: Emergency managers, utility officials, and regional partners using gap-filling radars.
- Congress: Tasked with receiving updates on progress.
- General Public: Beneficiaries of improved national weather services, particularly in areas with current coverage limitations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Creates a structured federal initiative with specific performance metrics and a multi-decade timeline, potentially involving significant appropriations for development and deployment.
- Emphasizes public-private partnerships, which may raise considerations around data ownership, contracting authority, and integration of commercial technologies into federal systems.
- Focuses exclusively on domestic weather infrastructure without provisions affecting constitutional rights or international treaties.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-02-05: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Radar Next Program Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-05 — PDF (6 pages)