National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
A BILL
To reauthorize the National Landslide Preparedness Act, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Certain definitions under Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act
“(1) Atmospheric river—The term atmospheric river means a transient corridor of strong water vapor in the atmosphere that—
“(A) produces significant quantities of rain or snow; and
“(B) may be primarily beneficial to the water supply or hazardous due to flooding.
“(2) Atmospheric river flooding event—The term atmospheric river flooding event means an atmospheric river that—
“(A) results in flooding of rivers and streams or other hazards to human life, property, or the economy; and
“(B) is of particular concern to human health, property, and the economy, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce.
“(3) Extreme precipitation event—The term extreme precipitation event means precipitation quantities exceeding the 5-year annual recurrence interval for a specific location.”
Sec. 3 Reauthorization of National Landslide Preparedness Act
“(4) Atmospheric river—The term atmospheric river has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)).
“(5) Atmospheric river flooding event—The term atmospheric river flooding event has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)).
“(6) Extreme precipitation event—The term extreme precipitation event has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)).”
“(9) Institution of higher education—The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).”
“(12) Native Hawaiian organization—The term Native Hawaiian organization has the meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517), except that the term includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.”
“(17) Tribal organization—The term Tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).”
“(A) In general—Not later than”
“(B) Assessment—For purposes of the first national strategy published after the date of enactment of the National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 under subparagraph (A), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall include an assessment of the risks that atmospheric river flooding events and extreme precipitation events pose to the safety of life and property in the United States with respect to landslide hazards.”
“(C) the identification of areas in need of additional hazard risk assessment, including areas that may be at risk due to—
“(i) hydrology or changes in hydrology that may include erosion, drought, or other characteristics that could impact landslide risk;
“(ii) atmospheric river flooding events and extreme precipitation events, as identified by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary;
“(iii) geologic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis; or
“(iv) data-poor areas or hazards with poor monitoring that could contribute to increased landslide risk;”
“(iii) health and safety with respect to landslides;”
“(iv) reducing losses from landslides, including the threats caused by atmospheric rivers and other extreme precipitation events; and”
“(A) In general—In carrying out”
“(B) Consultation—In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv) and other stakeholders to establish and support emergency response procedures, as appropriate.”
“(A) In general—In carrying”
“(iv) to improve real-time risk management during landslide events, including with respect to landslide events caused by—
“(I) hydrology or changes in hydrology that may include erosion, drought, or other characteristics that could impact landslide risk;
“(II) atmospheric river flooding events and extreme precipitation events, as identified by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary;
“(III) geologic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis;
“(IV) data-poor areas or hazards with poor monitoring that could contribute to increased landslide risk; or
“(V) thawing permafrost and glacial retreat causing destabilization of slopes.”
“(B) Consultation—In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv) and the private sector.”
“(J) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.”
“(e) Regional partnerships
“(1) In general—As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of the National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, the Secretary shall establish in the State of Alaska and other regions, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, a regional partnership with an eligible partner described in paragraph (2).
“(2) Eligible partners—An organization or institution of higher education with expertise in landslide mapping, research, and monitoring shall be eligible for a regional partnership under paragraph (1).
“(3) Purposes and duties—A regional partnership established under paragraph (1) shall—
“(A) allow the Secretary to leverage applicable expertise in regional organizations;
“(B) coordinate long-term landslide research specific to the applicable region; and
“(C) align interagency landslide monitoring efforts.”
“(II) in regions that have recently experienced loss of life due to landslides;”
“(D) the 3D Hydrography Program Working Group;”