Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Scott Franklin (R-FL) to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and prediction, and expand commercial opportunities for providing weather data advanced through the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee on Sept. 10.
“NOAA plays a critical role in keeping Americans safe when severe weather strikes,” Rep. Franklin said. “With hurricane season under way, Floridians know all too well the need for forecasts they can trust. This bill ensures NOAA has the tools and technology to deliver accurate, timely information that helps families prepare, protects farmers’ crops, and gives first responders the warnings they need when every second counts.”
Rep. Lucas on Sept. 2 introduced the 180-page Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, H.R. 5089, alongside bill cosponsors Rep. Franklin, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and other lawmakers.
H.R. 5089 would modernize NOAA’s forecasting capabilities by accelerating the use of artificial intelligence, improving hurricane and tornado prediction, enhancing emergency communications, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector to deliver faster, more reliable information when severe weather threatens lives and property, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Franklin’s staff.
The bill also would continue investment in tools such as the Drought Information System, the Soil Moisture Monitoring Network, and the National Mesonet Program to help protect crops, conserve water, and support resilience in the face of future challenges, the summary says.
H.R. 5089 would be the first full reauthorization of the law since the original 2017 law, which laid the groundwork for modernizing NOAA’s forecasting capabilities.
The bill is also under consideration by the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee.