119th Congress Emergency Management
H.R. 7386: First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026
Passed House
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (completed)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill extends through FY2037 and modifies the management of the First Responder Network (FirstNet) Authority. (The FirstNet Authority oversees the development and operation of FirstNet, a nationwide, interoperable broadband network for first responders.) The bill also requires certain actions of the entity operating FirstNet.
Currently, the FirstNet Authority is an independent agency within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The bill removes the FirstNet Authority’s independent status and establishes an associate administrator in the NTIA to manage the FirstNet Authority’s operations. The FirstNet Authority’s actions must be subject to NTIA approval, with exceptions established by the NTIA. The FirstNet Authority’s Board must include at least five (currently, three) individuals who have served as public safety professionals.
The entity contracted to develop and operate FirstNet (currently AT&T) must notify the FirstNet Authority within 30 minutes of any network outage and provide users with a network status tool to monitor outages. Every five years, such entity must submit to the NTIA for approval a business continuity and disaster recovery plan to ensure rapid restoration of the network following disaster-caused outages. Annual audits of the FirstNet Authority must include an evaluation of such entity’s performance.
Read the full summary
The NTIA must brief Congress annually regarding FirstNet and provide annual reports relating to cybersecurity and network adoption rates.
Within seven years after the bill’s enactment, the Government Accountability Office must report on what action Congress should take regarding the termination of the FirstNet Authority in 2037.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Jennifer McClellan D-VAOriginal
Who scored on this bill
- 1Neal Dunn SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, marked up, reported, passed House5 events+68
- 2Jennifer McClellanCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
See all scorers and every scoring event
Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
Other bills by Neal Dunn
History
- Passed the House by voice vote.
- Introduced in the House by Neal Dunn.
Show the full action history (16 actions)
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Mr. Allen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2967-2970)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7386.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2967-2968)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2967-2968)
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-615.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 533.
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 51 - 0.
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.