119-S-2245 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

Bipartisan bill to update NOAA’s Digital Coast program by making coastal data fully and freely available, adding underground utility information, and extending the program’s authorization to 2030; it’s now positioned for potential Senate floor consideration. (congress.gov)

What It Does

In plain English: this bill fine‑tunes the 2020 Digital Coast Act. It would 1) require that Digital Coast data be “fully and freely available,” 2) explicitly include data related to underground infrastructure and subsurface utilities, and 3) extend the program through 2030. The Digital Coast platform—run by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management—centralizes coastal maps, tools, and training that local governments and planners already use. (congress.gov)

Why It Matters

If you live or work in a coastal or Great Lakes community, this could mean easier, no‑cost access to standardized data for flood planning, storm prep, infrastructure siting, and permitting. NOAA describes Digital Coast as a “go‑to” resource that many managers rely on; prior analyses cited by NOAA and Congress have also pointed to a high return on investment for the program. (coast.noaa.gov)

Who’s For It

• Sponsors: Senators Tammy Baldwin (D‑WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK) say reauthorizing Digital Coast helps shoreline and Great Lakes communities prepare for storms and plan smart development. (congress.gov)
• Coastal data users and partners: The Digital Coast Partnership Advocacy Coalition praised the reauthorization in sponsor statements, highlighting benefits to local planning and resilience; NOAA lists long‑standing partner organizations that help shape the program. (baldwin.senate.gov)
• Process signal: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee ordered the bill to be reported favorably with a substitute on October 21, 2025, indicating bipartisan committee‑level backing. (congress.gov)

Who’s Against It

• Recorded opposition appears limited so far: the House companion was reported favorably, and the Senate committee advanced S. 2245; no major opposition statements were noted in official materials as of January 31, 2026. (congress.gov)
• Potential concerns some might raise include data‑security sensitivities around mapping subsurface utilities, as well as ongoing costs of data collection and integration. (These are general considerations; specific formal objections have not been prominent to date.)

What’s Next

As of January 30, 2026, S. 2245 is listed on the Senate’s Legislative Calendar under General Orders, making it eligible for floor debate and votes. If the Senate passes it, the House would need to pass the same or similar text (or reconcile differences with the companion effort) before it goes to the President. (govinfo.gov)