Bill
HR 8407
A new Commission on Hazard Risk Assessment Tools would be created under NIST to develop and guide tools, methods, and standards for hazard risk assessment.
HR 8407 — Summary
Overview
- Title: To direct the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology to establish a Commission on Hazard Risk Assessment Tools, and for other purposes.
- Session: 119th Congress
- Jurisdiction: United States
- Introduced: April 21, 2026
- Current action: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (same day as introduction)
- Sponsors: Rep. Scott Franklin (co-sponsor), Rep. Max Miller (co-sponsor), Rep. Gabe Amo (co-sponsor)
What the bill aims to do
- Establishes a new entity: the Commission on Hazard Risk Assessment Tools. The commission would be created under the oversight of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology (a senior official within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST).
- Primary purpose: To evaluate, develop, and presumably advance tools and methodologies for hazard risk assessment. The intent is to improve the reliability, accuracy, and usefulness of risk assessment tools used to identify, quantify, and manage hazards.
Key provisions and changes (proposed)
- Commission creation: A formal commission would be established within the framework of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology.
- Focus areas (implied): Hazard risk assessment tools could cover areas such as data standards, measurement techniques, modeling approaches, validation and testing protocols, interoperability, and clear data governance.
- Authorization and scope: The bill designates responsibilities to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology to set up and oversee the commission, including defining its mission, operations, and potential outputs.
- Potential outputs: While not stated in the summary, expected deliverables would typically include reports, recommendations, guidelines, or standards related to hazard risk assessment tools and how they should be used by federal agencies, industry, and stakeholders.
Who would be affected
- Federal agencies: Agencies relying on hazard risk assessment tools may be directly impacted by new standards, guidelines, or recommended practices developed by the commission.
- Industry and researchers: Stakeholders involved in hazard risk assessment, data collection, modeling, and risk analytics could be affected through updated tools, performance criteria, and data interoperability standards.
- NIST / OSTP interface: The Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology would lead and coordinate the commission, potentially influencing priorities for standards development and tool validation.
Procedural and timeline considerations
- Establishment and governance: The bill would require the Under Secretary to establish the Commission on Hazard Risk Assessment Tools, define its mandate, structure, and operating procedures.
- Reporting and milestones: The text provided does not specify reporting deadlines or sunset provisions; typical legislation of this type may include periodic reports to Congress, interim milestones, and a duration for the commission’s tenure.
- House action: As of the provided history, referral to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology indicates initial step in the legislative process. Floor consideration would follow committee work, potential amendments, and votes.
Notes and considerations for readers
- The bill’s language as summarized emphasizes Commission creation and leadership under NIST. Specific details such as membership size, appointment processes, funding levels, duration, and exact authority (e.g., statutory standards vs. advisory guidance) are not provided in the summary and would be critical to review in the full text.
- The policy impact hinges on how the commission’s outputs would be implemented across federal agencies and industry, and whether new mandatory standards or voluntary guidelines would result.
If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to include potential fiscal implications, stakeholder considerations, or compare it with prior similar initiatives.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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