Landslide preparedness bill expands early warning systems, includes tribal voices

What it does

This bill reauthorizes and expands the National Landslide Preparedness Act, adding new definitions for atmospheric rivers, extreme precipitation events, and including Native Hawaiian organizations and tribal entities in landslide hazard reduction programs. It establishes regional partnerships (starting in Alaska), increases funding to $35 million annually through 2030 (with $10 million dedicated to early warning systems), and expands the 3D elevation mapping program to include derivative products and integration capabilities.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is reauthorizing and expanding a federal landslide hazard reduction program with new funding, expanded stakeholder inclusion, and enhanced early warning capabilities. It is a straightforward public-safety measure with no hidden commercial or private carve-outs.

What the text implies

• Inclusion of atmospheric river and extreme precipitation definitions may broaden the program's scope beyond traditional landslide hazards into flood-related risks, potentially increasing interagency coordination demands and funding pressure.
• Regional partnership model starting in Alaska could establish a template for future regional disaster-preparedness programs, creating precedent for decentralized federal coordination.
• Explicit inclusion of Native Hawaiian organizations and tribal entities in grant programs and decision-making may increase administrative complexity but strengthens equity in disaster preparedness access.
• The $10 million earmark for early warning systems deployment creates a dedicated funding stream that may reduce flexibility in overall program allocation.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill expands public safety infrastructure and early warning systems for landslide hazards affecting communities nationwide, particularly in high-risk regions. It explicitly includes underrepresented groups (Native Hawaiian organizations, tribal entities, institutions of higher education) in decision-making and grant programs, broadening access to preparedness resources and research funding.

Who stands to gain

• institutions of higher education (research and monitoring contracts)
• regional organizations with landslide expertise
• state and local governments (grant recipients)
• Native Hawaiian organizations and tribal entities (grant and partnership eligibility)

Named in the bill

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, institutions of higher education, state and local governments

Where it stands

8 cosponsors: 6 Democrats, 2 Republicans.

• Mar 21, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Mar 21, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural…”
• May 20, 2025 — Hearing held · Congress.gov: “Subcommittee Hearings Held”
• Jun 25, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Jun 25, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

5 lobbying clients named this bill on 7 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $544,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 10 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 78% of bills with at least one filing.

Suzan DelBene, the sponsor, reported $1,605,299 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Reinsurance Assn of America — $390,000 on 1 filing
• Management Association of Private Photogrammetrist Surveyors — $80,000 on 2 filings
• American Geophysical Union — $30,000 on 2 filings
• County of Santa Barbara — $24,000 on 1 filing
• Sanborn Map Company — $20,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.