H.R. 2296 — National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act

This section directs the Director of the National Weather Service to replace the NWSChat instant messaging service with a commercial off-the-shelf communications solution hosted on the public cloud, not later than October 1, 2027. The solution must accommodate future growth, perform successfully with increased users, be easy to use for most users, and be similar to commercial systems. The section authorizes up to $3 million for each of FY2026 through FY2029 from National Weather Service Operations, Research, and Facilities funds, with all funding derived from amounts appropriated to the National Weather Service.