Strengthening Infrastructure, Readiness, and Emergency Notifications Act of 2026
A BILL
To authorize States to use leftover funds under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program for emergency warning infrastructure, connectivity, and related systems projects.
Sec. 2 Grants for broadband deployment
“(1) Permitted uses—An eligible entity may”
“(2) Use of remaining amounts for emergency warning infrastructure, connectivity, and related systems projects
“(A) Definitions—In this paragraph:
“(i) Eligible project—The term eligible project means a project for the procurement, installation, or modernization of—
“(I) audible warning sirens or similar rapid notification technologies and infrastructure;
“(II) wind, flood, fire, earthquake, or other sensor technologies necessary for the detection and monitoring of, and rapid response to, major disasters; or
“(III) information technology equipment, software, and any other related item necessary for the function of projects described in subclauses (I) and (II).
“(ii) Remaining amounts—The term remaining amounts, with respect to the allocations to an eligible entity under subsection (c), means any amounts remaining from those allocations upon approval of the eligible entity’s final proposal under subsection (e)(4).
“(B) Use of remaining funds—An eligible entity that wishes to use remaining amounts for 1 or more eligible projects—
“(i) shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a proposal for utilizing the remaining amounts in accordance with clause (ii); and
“(ii) may, if the proposal submitted under clause (i) is approved by the Assistant Secretary, use the remaining amounts to establish a competitive subgrant program to support 1 or more eligible projects.
“(C) Prioritization—In awarding subgrants under subparagraph (B), an eligible entity shall prioritize eligible projects in which the eligible entity or a political subdivision of the eligible entity has provided not less than 25 percent of the cost of the eligible project.
“(D) Prohibited use of funds—A subgrant awarded under subparagraph (B) may not be used for the operating or maintenance costs of an eligible project.
“(E) Interstate projects—Two or more eligible entities may execute a memorandum of agreement between or among one another to facilitate a subgrant award under subparagraph (B) for an eligible project that spans an area within the jurisdiction of 2 or more of the eligible entities.”