US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US Federal Senate Bill SB1958

Introduced
 
Introduced
6/4/25  

Caption

FORECAST Act

Impact

Should SB1958 be enacted, it will significantly affect the staffing policies of the NWS, allowing for uninterrupted hiring of personnel crucial to weather monitoring and forecasting. The bill stipulates that the Secretary of Commerce must implement these exemptions within 30 days of enactment, signifying a proactive approach to maintaining operational capacity during emergency conditions. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for annual reporting on the staffing levels for these covered positions, fostering accountability and transparency.

Summary

SB1958, identified as the Federal Operational Resilience in Emergency Conditions and Storm Tracking Act, seeks to address public safety concerns by exempting certain positions within the National Weather Service (NWS) from federal hiring freezes. The bill emphasizes the critical role these positions play in issuing weather alerts and maintaining vital observational equipment, ultimately aimed at protecting lives and property from hazardous weather events. By ensuring that these key positions remain staffed, the bill aligns with the broader goals of emergency preparedness and response frameworks.

Contention

There are potential points of contention surrounding this bill, particularly concerning the implications of exempting these positions from broader federal hiring policies. Some may argue that while these roles are important, the exemption could set a precedent for similar requests from other federal agencies, thus complicating the overall federal employment framework. Critics might also raise concerns about equitable hiring practices and the potential impact on budget allocations within the Department of Commerce, which oversees the NWS.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US SB3923

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026

US SB1484

FORECAST Act of 2025 Forecasting Optimization for Robust Earth Climate Analysis and S2S Tracking Act of 2025

US HB5089

Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2025

US AB2473

Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center: forecasted extreme, life-threatening fire weather conditions.

US SB1278

Fog Observations and Geographic Forecasting Act

US SB590

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

US SB613

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

US SB322

Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts ActThis bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish an atmospheric river forecast improvement program.In carrying out the program, NOAA must seek to reduce loss of life and property and other economic losses caused by atmospheric river events through research and development on accurate, effective, and actionable forecasting and warnings. The program must generally involve the establishment of quantitative atmospheric river forecast skill metrics, the development of an atmospheric river forecast system within a unified forecast system, and the development of tools and products to predict periods of active or inactive atmospheric river landfalls and inland penetration, among other activities. The program must periodically test and evaluate the value of incorporating innovative observations (e.g., observations from radar, aircraft, ocean buoys, and other sources) to facilitate the improvement of modeling and forecasting. The program must also consider the development of best practices for communicating the existence and severity of atmospheric river events, as well as other information about atmospheric rivers. The program may seek to improve precipitation modeling, with an emphasis on forecasting for complex terrain. The bill also requires NOAA to acquire and sustain adequate crewed and uncrewed aircraft (i.e., drones), equipment, and personnel necessary to meet air reconnaissance mission requirements annually during the expected atmospheric river season (November through March). 

US HB3705

Fog Observations and Geographic Forecasting Act

US SB324

Smarter Weather Forecasting for Water Management, Farming, and Ranching Act of 2025This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish pilot projects to support improved subseasonal to seasonal precipitation forecasting for water management in the western United States and for agriculture nationwide. (Under current law, subseasonal means the time range between two weeks and three months, and seasonal means the time range between three months and two years.)Specifically, NOAA must establish a pilot project to address challenges to improving forecasting and related product development for water management in the western United States. The project must address, among other items, improvements to operational modeling in mountainous regions and to the forecasting of atmospheric rivers. NOAA must also establish a second pilot project to address challenges to improving forecasting and related product development for U.S. agriculture. The project must address, among other items, improvements to operational modeling of warm-season precipitation and to the prediction of certain spring and summer weather patterns.  Each pilot project must include activities that engage with and leverage the resources of academic institutions and entities within NOAA, and that achieve measurable objectives for operational forecast improvement. NOAA’s authority with respect to these pilot projects expires five years after the bill’s enactment. 

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.