S. 320 · Where this bill is now
In the House
Passed the Senate Jan 5, 2026. Received Jan 7, 2026; no House vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStrengthens federal earthquake readiness programs
This bill continues federal funding and activities that help the country prepare for and respond to earthquakes. Right now, four federal agencies work together on earthquake research, warning systems, and safety measures. The bill expands what they do to include understanding earthquakes' side effects like tsunamis and fires, helping buildings and infrastructure bounce back faster after an earthquake hits, and helping cities figure out which structures face the biggest earthquake risk. It also makes sure tribal governments are included in these efforts.
How it affects you
If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, this matters to you. Your community could benefit from better early warning systems, safer building standards, and faster recovery of water, power, and transportation systems after a quake. Public officials and planners in earthquake-prone regions will have more support in assessing and strengthening vulnerable infrastructure in their areas.
Read the official summary (Passed Senate, Jan 5, 2026)
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and expands the activities federal agencies must conduct under the program, including activities relating to secondary effects of earthquakes and post-earthquake infrastructure performance.
NEHRP is a coordinated earthquake hazards reduction program of four federal agencies: the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Science Foundation. Under NEHRP, these agencies are required to conduct various activities relating to earthquakes, including advancing warning systems, hazard reduction measures, and research to improve understanding of earthquakes and their effects.
The bill expands the scope of the activities under NEHRP, including requiring the agencies to
• improve understanding of and develop resilience measures for secondary effects and multiple hazards associated with earthquakes, such as tsunamis and fires;
• improve post-earthquake functional recovery, which means maintaining or restoring the pre-earthquake functionality of buildings and lifeline infrastructure systems (e.g., infrastructure for water, electricity, and transportation); and
• assist public entities with developing an inventory, and conducting seismic performance evaluation, of infrastructure with high seismic risk.
Additionally, the bill specifically includes tribal governments in the activities conducted under NEHRP.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 320
AN ACT
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) · Introduced Jan 29, 2025 · Emergency Management · 3 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 7, 2026: “Held at the desk.”
Numbers that changed
Dollar amounts, dates and percentages, taken word for word from the text- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$10,590,000→$8,500,000…by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following: (K) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $8,500,000 for fiscal…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$10,590,000→$8,500,000…by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following: (K) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $8,500,000 for fiscal…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$10,590,000→$8,500,000…following: (K) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2025, (M) $8,500,000 for fiscal…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$10,590,000→$8,500,000…2024, (L) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2025, (M) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2026, (N) $8,500,000 for fiscal…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$10,590,000→$8,500,000…(N) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2027, and (O) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2028,. (b) United States Geological…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$100,900,000→$92,427,000…by adding at the end the following: (K) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which not less…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$100,900,000→$92,427,000…National Seismic System established under section 13; (L) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which not less…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$100,900,000→$92,427,000…National Seismic System established under section 13; (M) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which not less…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$100,900,000→$92,427,000…National Seismic System established under section 13; (N) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which not less…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$100,900,000→$92,427,000…Seismic System established under section 13; and (O) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which not less…
| Section | Where | Before | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following: (K) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $8,500,000 for fiscal…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $10,590,000 | $8,500,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following: (K) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $8,500,000 for fiscal…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $10,590,000 | $8,500,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…following: (K) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2025, (M) $8,500,000 for fiscal…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $10,590,000 | $8,500,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…2024, (L) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2025, (M) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2026, (N) $8,500,000 for fiscal…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $10,590,000 | $8,500,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…(N) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2027, and (O) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2028,. (b) United States Geological…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $10,590,000 | $8,500,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…by adding at the end the following: (K) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which not less…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $100,900,000 | $92,427,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…National Seismic System established under section 13; (L) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which not less…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $100,900,000 | $92,427,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…National Seismic System established under section 13; (M) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which not less…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $100,900,000 | $92,427,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…National Seismic System established under section 13; (N) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which not less…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $100,900,000 | $92,427,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…Seismic System established under section 13; and (O) $92,427,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which not less…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $100,900,000 | $92,427,000 |
Show all 15 number changes
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$58,000,000→$54,000,000…by adding at the end the following: (K) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $54,000,000 for fiscal…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$58,000,000→$54,000,000…by adding at the end the following: (K) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $54,000,000 for fiscal…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$58,000,000→$54,000,000…following: (K) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, (M) $54,000,000 for fiscal…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$58,000,000→$54,000,000…2024, (L) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, (M) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, (N) $54,000,000 for fiscal…
- Sec. 9 · Amount · Committee version → Passed the SenateAuthorization of appropriations$58,000,000→$54,000,000…(N) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and (O) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.. (d) National Institute of…
| Section | Where | Before | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…by adding at the end the following: (K) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $54,000,000 for fiscal…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $58,000,000 | $54,000,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…by adding at the end the following: (K) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $54,000,000 for fiscal…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $58,000,000 | $54,000,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…following: (K) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, (L) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, (M) $54,000,000 for fiscal…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $58,000,000 | $54,000,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…2024, (L) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, (M) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, (N) $54,000,000 for fiscal…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $58,000,000 | $54,000,000 |
| Sec. 9Amount | Authorization of appropriations…(N) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and (O) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.. (d) National Institute of…Committee version → Passed the Senate | $58,000,000 | $54,000,000 |
Listed only when one value replaced another and the surrounding words stayed the same. Open a section to read the full wording.