S. 320: National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsor
Alex Padilla
Democrat · CA
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jan 7, 2026
Passed the Senate, received in House
Why it matters
The bill comes as officials warn that earthquake risk, aging buildings, and huge potential losses are still outpacing local preparedness.
The bill text provided appears to be incomplete, so the biggest open question is funding. Based on the available text, the measure is more clearly about policy direction and program improvements than about creating a brand-new grant program. Even so, the policy changes could shape how federal agencies, engineers, and local governments plan for earthquake resilience for years.
What does S. 320 do?
Updates the federal earthquake law
Refreshes findings in the 1977 law with newer data on earthquake risk, population exposure, and economic losses.
Adds Tribal governments throughout
Explicitly includes Tribal governments in planning, information sharing, and technical support under the national earthquake program.
Focuses on older risky buildings
Expands the program from safer design and construction to also include evaluation and retrofitting of existing buildings and infrastructure.
Pushes for faster post-quake recovery
Promotes standards and guidance aimed at functional recovery, so important buildings and lifeline systems can return to service more quickly after an earthquake.
Encourages inventories of high-risk structures
Calls for best practices to identify and assess buildings, structures, and infrastructure with high seismic risk, especially those critical to community resilience.
Expands technical assistance and hazard tools
Supports federal help for states, localities, and Tribes on inventories, seismic evaluations, retrofit strategies, and updated hazard mapping, including tsunami-related risks.
Who benefits from S. 320?
State, local, and Tribal governments
They get clearer inclusion in the program and may receive more technical help for planning, evaluating risk, and improving resilience.
Communities in earthquake-prone areas
They could benefit from safer buildings, better hazard information, and quicker recovery of essential services after a quake.
Hospitals, housing providers, and other critical facilities
The bill's focus on functional recovery and high-priority buildings could steer more attention to keeping these places usable after disasters.
Engineers, building officials, and emergency planners
They may get updated standards, guidance, and data tools for assessing risk and improving building performance.
Who is affected by S. 320?
Federal agencies in the earthquake program
They would need to update guidance, coordinate more closely, and place greater emphasis on retrofits, inventories, and post-earthquake recovery goals.
Owners of older buildings and infrastructure
They could face more scrutiny as governments identify high-risk structures and encourage or require evaluations and retrofits.
Building code and standards organizations
They may be pressed to incorporate newer guidance on reoccupancy, downtime, and resilience into voluntary standards and consensus codes.
Public utilities and lifeline infrastructure operators
They may see growing expectations to assess seismic weakness and plan for continuity of service after major earthquakes.
S. 320 Common Questions
How much funding does the earthquake bill authorize for USGS each year?
According to S. 320 Section 9, the bill authorizes $92,427,000 annually for USGS, with at least $36,000,000 reserved for the Advanced National Seismic System.
How much does the bill authorize each year for the national earthquake program?
Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Section 9), the general program is authorized at $8,500,000 annually for FY 2024 through FY 2028.
What are the annual earthquake losses and total exposure cited in S. 320?
According to S. 320 Section 2, annualized earthquake losses to U.S. building stock are $14.7 billion, and total economic exposure for buildings and contents is $107.8 trillion.
How many Americans live in areas at risk of a damaging earthquake under the 2025 bill findings?
Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Section 2), almost half of the U.S. population lives in areas at risk of a damaging earthquake within 50 years.
Can Tribal governments get included in the federal earthquake program under S. 320?
Yes. According to S. 320 Sections 2, 3, and 5, the program expands from States to States and Tribal jurisdictions and adds Tribal governments to program goals and advisory representation.
Does the earthquake bill cover retrofitting existing buildings and infrastructure?
Yes. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Section 5), program activities include designing, evaluating, and retrofitting buildings and infrastructure.
What is functional recovery in the earthquake bill?
According to S. 320 Section 4, functional recovery means a building or lifeline system is maintained or restored after an earthquake to safely support its pre-earthquake use or service level.
Does S. 320 require inventories of high-risk buildings and infrastructure?
Yes. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Section 5), the program includes inventorying high-risk infrastructure and related activities, subject to funding.
Which buildings get special attention for earthquake safety under the 2025 bill?
According to S. 320 Section 3, earthquake hazard reduction efforts must include housing and care facilities for vulnerable populations.
When is the first biennial seismic standards report due under S. 320?
Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Section 7), the first biennial report on implementing seismic standards recommendations is due September 30, 2025.
Based on S. 320 bill text
S320 Legislative Journey
House: Action Taken
Jan 7, 2026
Held at the desk.
Passed
Jan 5, 2026
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
+3 more actions this day
Committee Action
Oct 14, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-74.
Passed Committee
Apr 30, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee Action
Jan 29, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
About the Sponsor
Alex Padilla
Democrat, CA · 5 years in Congress
Committees: Rules and Administration, Joint Committee on Printing, Joint Committee of Congress on the Library
View full profile →
Cosponsors (1)
This bill has 1 cosponsor: 1 Republican. Cosponsors represent 1 state: Alaska.
Committee Sponsors
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
0 of 28 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
13 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
S. 320 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Chamber
- Senate
- Policy
- Emergency Management
- Introduced
- Jan 29, 2025
Passed the Senate, received in House
Jan 7, 2026
Who is lobbying on S. 320?
1 organization lobbying on this bill
REINSURANCE ASSN OF AMERICA | 2 |
Showing 1-1 of 1 organizations
S. 320 Bill Text
“To reauthorize the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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