Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025
HB4047, titled the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025, amends the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 to expand collaboration between NOAA and nonfederal partners on ocean acidification and coastal acidification. The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce, through NOAA, to work more closely with State and local governments, Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribal organizations, Tribal consortia, and other affected stakeholders on vulnerability assessments, research planning, data collection, monitoring, and related adaptation activities.
The bill also broadens the membership and duties of the Ocean Acidification Advisory Board, adds a formal engagement policy for Indian Tribes, and requires NOAA to maintain an ongoing mechanism for input from industry, coastal stakeholders, community acidification networks, fishery councils, Indigenous groups, non-federal resource managers, and outside scientific experts. It further updates the strategic research plan and NOAA collaboration provisions to reflect coastal acidification, underserved communities, and Indigenous participation, while making several technical corrections and conforming edits to the underlying 2009 statute.
If enacted, the bill would amend multiple sections of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009, primarily by expanding consultation and coordination requirements for NOAA and the Secretary of Commerce. It would create new statutory expectations for ongoing stakeholder engagement, add Indigenous and Native Hawaiian representation to advisory structures, and require collaboration on vulnerability assessments and research planning with state, local, and tribal entities. The bill would affect NOAA’s ocean acidification program, the Ocean Acidification Advisory Board, and the content of strategic research plans and annual reporting under federal law.
The available record suggests generally positive and bipartisan sentiment. The bill was introduced by a group of members from both parties and from coastal states and territories, indicating broad interest in the issue. No committee transcript or vote data is provided, but the bill’s framing around collaboration, local input, and support for coastal communities suggests it is designed to be consensus-oriented rather than controversial.
The main policy emphasis is on who should be included in federal ocean acidification planning and how much weight should be given to state, local, tribal, Indigenous, and community-based input. Potential points of contention could include the added administrative obligations on NOAA, the scope of required consultation, and the specific inclusion of Indigenous and Native Hawaiian entities in advisory and coordination roles. The bill also prioritizes underserved populations in NOAA resource use, which could raise questions about implementation and allocation, though no explicit opposition is reflected in the provided materials.