Federal coastal data now fully free—and includes underground infrastructure
S. 2245 — A bill to amend the Digital Coast Act to improve the acquisition, integration, and accessibility of data of the Digital Coast program and to extend the program. · Filed by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Jul 10, 2025 · Passed chamber
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What it does
This bill amends the Digital Coast Act to require that coastal data collected by the federal government be made fully and freely available (not just readily accessible), expands the types of data collected to include underground infrastructure and subsurface utilities, clarifies that trainings focus on technical instruction, and extends the program's authorization from 2025 to 2030.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is to strengthen public access to federal coastal and infrastructure data and extend program funding. It is a straightforward transparency and public-information measure with no narrow beneficiaries or hidden riders.
What the text implies
- Inclusion of 'underground infrastructure and subsurface utilities' data may expose sensitive information about critical infrastructure location and design, potentially creating security considerations that agencies will need to balance against transparency.
- Extension to 2030 commits federal resources and coordination across agencies (NOAA and others) for five additional years; reauthorization will be needed in 2030, creating a future legislative checkpoint.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
Ordinary citizens and coastal communities gain expanded, unrestricted access to federal coastal and infrastructure data that can inform local planning, environmental protection, and disaster preparedness. The shift from 'readily accessible' to 'fully and freely available' removes potential barriers to use, and inclusion of subsurface utility data supports public safety and infrastructure resilience.