National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025

This bill would reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through fiscal year 2028 and expand the scope of activities conducted by the four federal agencies that manage the program. The proposal would require these agencies to develop resilience measures for secondary earthquake hazards, such as tsunamis and fires, and improve the functional recovery of buildings and critical infrastructure like water and electricity systems. Additionally, the bill would provide assistance to public entities for evaluating high-risk infrastructure and specifically includes tribal governments in program activities.

The bill affects four federal agencies responsible for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Science Foundation. Public entities and tribal governments are also affected, as the bill provides for assistance in inventorying and evaluating high-risk seismic infrastructure. Additionally, the legislation impacts operators of lifeline infrastructure systems, such as water, electricity, and transportation providers, through new functional recovery and resilience standards.

• Program Reauthorization. Reauthorizes the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through fiscal year 2028.
• Expansion of Hazard Research and Resilience Measures. Requires federal agencies to improve the understanding of and develop resilience measures for secondary effects and multiple hazards associated with earthquakes, such as tsunamis and fires.
• Post-Earthquake Functional Recovery Improvements. Directs agencies to enhance the maintenance or restoration of pre-earthquake functionality for buildings and lifeline infrastructure systems, including water, electricity, and transportation.
• Infrastructure Inventory and Evaluation Assistance. Provides assistance to public entities for developing inventories and conducting seismic performance evaluations of infrastructure identified as having high seismic risk.
• Inclusion of Tribal Governments. Specifically incorporates tribal governments into the activities and programs conducted under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.

• S. 320, National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
  Jun 24, 2025 · As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on April 30, 2025

The bill reauthorizes the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program through fiscal year 2028.

This bill reauthorizes the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through fiscal year 2028 and expands the scope of activities required of the four federal agencies currently responsible for the program. It also updates the program's requirements to specifically include tribal governments and introduces new mandates for assessing post-earthquake infrastructure performance and secondary hazards.

This bill aims to reauthorize and expand the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) to enhance federal coordination in earthquake warning systems, hazard reduction, and research. It specifically intends to improve national resilience against secondary earthquake effects like tsunamis and fires, support the functional recovery of critical infrastructure, and include tribal governments in seismic safety activities.