H.R. 7448: Modernizing and Improving the National Terrorism Advisory System Act of 2026

Overview

This bill, introduced in the House of Representatives on February 9, 2026, aims to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to modernize the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS).

Key Provisions

• Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a strategy to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs within one year of the bill's enactment.
• The strategy must consider the following:
  1. Designating a specific office or official within the Department of Homeland Security to oversee the NTAS.
  2. The criteria, protocols, and standard operating procedures for issuing and sunsetting NTAS bulletins and alerts.
  3. The public accessibility and use of NTAS bulletins and alerts.
  4. The effectiveness of the current NTAS in communicating timely and detailed information to the public about potential terrorism threats.
  5. The impact of NTAS bulletins and alerts on the ability of federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement and emergency responders to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and mitigate against terrorism threats.
  6. Mechanisms to ensure NTAS bulletins and alerts reach the greatest number of people possible.
• Requires the Secretary to engage with individuals, stakeholders, the private sector, and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement and emergency responders to receive feedback on options to modernize the NTAS.
• Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report on the implementation of this section to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs within two years of the bill's enactment.

Impact

This bill aims to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of the National Terrorism Advisory System, which is used to communicate information about potential terrorism threats to the public and emergency responders. The modernization strategy could lead to changes in how the NTAS is managed, how alerts and bulletins are issued, and how they are communicated to the public and first responders. This could help ensure the NTAS is better equipped to fulfill its purpose of providing timely and detailed information about terrorism threats.