Reauthorizes and updates federal weather research, forecasting, and weather data programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and expands the government's purchases of private weather data.

Official title: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026

Next stop Senate floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

Senate

Introduced 25-FEB-2026

Referred 25-FEB-2026

Approved by committee 04-MAR-2026

Reported 28-SEP-2026

On the calendar 28-SEP-2026

Key points

Authorizes appropriations for NOAA weather laboratories, the United States Weather Research Program, and tornado and radar research for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with set annual amounts for each category
Creates a Commercial Data Program and a Commercial Data Pilot Program so NOAA can buy and test weather and environmental data from private companies for operational forecasting
Directs NOAA to improve tornado, hurricane, precipitation, atmospheric river, and coastal flooding forecasts, and to replace the aging NEXRAD radar network with a plan to be fully implemented by September 30, 2040
Expands tsunami warning, fire weather, drought monitoring, and NOAA Weather Radio programs, and requires several agency reports and briefings to Congress

AI-generated from the Reported to Senate text of 28-SEP-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

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Committee referrals (1)

Policy area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor Ted Cruz (R-TX) Cosponsors · 11

■ 6 D■ 5 R

6 Democrats

5 Republicans