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S 1626

Prohibits the DEC from restricting the burning of garbage, refuse or rubbish in an open fire under certain circumstances

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello

Reauthorizes and strengthens USGS landslide and water monitoring programs through 2030 to improve real-time data, early warning, and forecasting for landslides, floods, and drought

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
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Bill Summary · S 1626

Summary — S.1626: National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025

Status: Introduced May 6, 2025 (Ms. Murkowski, cosponsored by Sen. Cantwell). Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; reported favorably with amendment (Senate Report No. 119‑92) and placed on Senate calendar (Calendar No. 249, Nov 3, 2025).

Purpose

Reauthorizes and updates the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program through fiscal year 2030, strengthens landslide risk assessment and preparedness, codifies and authorizes the USGS Next‑Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS), and prioritizes surface and groundwater monitoring (streamgages and national groundwater sites) to better inform landslide, flood, and drought forecasting.

Key provisions

  • Funding/authorization
    • Authorizes $35 million to USGS through FY2030 for the Landslide Hazards Program to purchase and deploy landslide early‑warning systems; at least $10 million must be allocated to high‑risk areas.
    • Maintains/extends existing authorization levels for partner agencies through FY2030: National Science Foundation ($11 million annually) and NOAA ($1 million annually).
  • Programmatic updates
    • Codifies and authorizes the NGWOS to expand real‑time, high‑resolution water quantity/quality data collection.
    • Prioritizes selection of new streamgage and national groundwater monitoring sites and authorizes the streamgage program.
    • Strengthens the landslide hazard data base by directing identification of areas needing additional hazard/risk assessment, including risks tied to hydrologic change, atmospheric river flooding events, extreme precipitation, geologic activity, and data‑poor regions.
  • Definitions and risk focus
    • Adds and harmonizes definitions for “atmospheric river,” “atmospheric river flooding event,” and “extreme precipitation event” (amending the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act and the National Landslide Preparedness Act).
    • Requires the first national landslide strategy published after enactment to include an assessment of risks from atmospheric river flooding and extreme precipitation.
  • Inclusion and coordination
    • Expands stakeholder language to explicitly include Native Hawaiian organizations, tribes, institutions of higher education, and other stakeholders in preparedness and planning activities.
    • Clarifies some statutory language to emphasize dissemination of program outputs and the program’s role in contributing to protecting communities.

Who is affected

  • Federal agencies: USGS (lead), NOAA, NSF.
  • State, tribal, and local governments and emergency managers in landslide‑prone and hydrologically sensitive areas.
  • Scientific and monitoring networks (streamgaging and groundwater operators), academic researchers, and communities prioritized for early‑warning deployment.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Reauthorization and program authorizations run through FY2030.
  • The bill was reported by the Senate Commerce Committee (Nov 3, 2025) with an amendment; hearings and committee action occurred during 2025 (multiple scheduling entries).
  • Congressional Budget Office cost estimate is referenced in the committee report (not reproduced here); specific appropriations still depend on subsequent appropriations actions.

Expected impact (high level)

Improves federal capacity to monitor hydrologic and geologic conditions that drive landslides, targets investment in early‑warning systems in high‑risk areas, and integrates water monitoring data (NGWOS, streamgages, groundwater network) to enhance forecasting and emergency response — potentially reducing loss of life and economic damages from landslides and related flooding events.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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