To establish in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a program to improve precipitation forecasts, and for other purposes.
HB4416 would create a new precipitation forecasts program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The program’s purpose is to improve precipitation forecasting across weather, subseasonal, seasonal, and decadal timescales by advancing research, model development, data collection and management, and operational forecasting capabilities. It specifically emphasizes fully coupled Earth System Models and seeks to improve understanding of precipitation extremes, including atmospheric rivers, tropical cyclones, and winter storms.
The bill directs NOAA to support work on observations, datasets, high-performance computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and social and behavioral science to improve both forecast accuracy and how forecast information is communicated. It also requires coordination across NOAA offices and engagement with federal, state, local, Tribal, academic, and private-sector partners. NOAA would be required to review and update the program’s goals at least every two years, with those updates incorporated into relevant strategic plans as appropriate.
The bill would add a new NOAA program focused on precipitation forecasting and authorize appropriations of $15 million in fiscal year 2026, rising modestly through fiscal year 2030. It does not amend existing statutes directly, but it would expand NOAA’s research and operational responsibilities and likely influence how NOAA allocates resources across weather, climate, and data infrastructure activities. The bill would also reinforce interagency and external collaboration on forecasting tools, datasets, and decision-support products.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be a technical, science-focused proposal with an emphasis on improving public forecasting capabilities. Its framing suggests generally positive support for research, modernization, and better weather prediction, especially for extreme precipitation events. No formal opposition or recorded controversy is available in the provided materials.
No committee transcript or vote history is provided, so there are no documented points of contention in the available record. Potential areas of debate, if the bill advances, could include the level of authorized funding, NOAA’s use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, and how responsibilities are coordinated among NOAA offices and external partners. However, these are not stated objections in the materials provided.