National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 - Summary **What it does:** This bill would renew and expand the federal government's landslide hazard program through 2030. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) would continue and strengthen its work in analyzing landslide risks, developing warning systems, and helping communities prepare for and respond to landslides. The bill adds new responsibilities, including studying how atmospheric rivers and extreme rainfall events contribute to landslides, and requires creation of a comprehensive database tracking landslide hazards across the country. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily benefits communities in landslide-prone areas, including mountainous regions and areas vulnerable to severe weather.
It specifically ensures that tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian communities can access program resources and support. State and local governments would also benefit from improved early warning systems and preparedness resources. **Key provisions:** The bill guarantees that a portion of funding goes specifically toward deploying early warning systems in high-risk areas, expands the program to address climate-related factors like extreme precipitation, and establishes a national database to identify areas needing additional landslide protection measures. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (H.R. 2250 in the 119th Congress) and has not yet been voted on.
CRS Official Summary
National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 and expands the National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program (NLHRP) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and reauthorizes and expands other related programs.The bill reauthorizes the NLHRP’s activities including analyzing, preparing for, and responding to landslide hazards. It specifies a minimum amount of NLHRP funds that must be used for deploying landslide early warning systems in high-risk areas. It also specifies that tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations may receive the benefits of the NLHRP.Also, the bill expands the NLHRP by requiring the USGS to incorporate atmospheric rivers and extreme precipitation events into the program’s national strategy, resources for communities on landslide preparedness, and emergency response activities. It requires a landslide hazards database to include information regarding identification of areas in need of additional landslide risk assessment and authorizes regional partnerships to coordinate landslide monitoring efforts. It also authorizes the USGS to consult with institutions of higher education when establishing priorities for grants and implementing the debris flow early warning system.Additionally, the bill reauthorizes the USGS’s 3D Elevation Program through FY2030 and requires relevant federal agencies to integrate enhanced elevation data. It also requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s precipitation frequency estimates to include precipitation from hurricanes, atmospheric rivers, and extreme precipitation events.
Latest Action
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-431, Part I.