Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-1325
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3]
Introduced: 2025-02-13
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Licensing and registrations

Spacecraft and satellites
Latest action: action_date: 2025-03-25
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill makes certain changes related to the licensing of private remote sensing space systems. (Under current regulations,&nbsp;<em>remote sensing</em> refers to the collection of data by instruments in Earth's orbit, such as satellites, that can be processed into imagery of Earth's surface; <em>private remote sensing space systems</em> refer to remote sensing instruments not owned by the U.S. government.)</p><p>The bill decreases from 120 to 60 days the amount of time in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration must review and act on an application for a license to operate a private remote sensing space system.</p><p>Further, the bill expands annual reporting on the licensing of private remote sensing space systems to include a list of all applications, organized by tier, as well as the rationale for each tier categorization. (Currently, each license is categorized into one of three tiers based on whether the system produces or is capable of producing data that is already available from other entities). Additionally, the report must include all terms, conditions, or restrictions placed on licensees.</p><p>The bill also reinstates this annual reporting requirement, which expired on September 30, 2020, through September 30, 2030.</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1325 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation AN ACT To provide for transparent licensing of commercial remote sensing systems, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 . 2. Annual reports (a) Deadlines (1) In general Section 60121(c) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking 120 and inserting 60 . (2) Conforming amendment Section 60126(a)(1)(E) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking 120 and inserting 60 . (b) Notifications Section 60126(a)(2) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking section 60122; and and inserting paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 60122(b); . (c) Conditions Section 60126(a) of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: (3) all terms, conditions, or restrictions placed on licensees pursuant to section 60122; and . (d) Tiers Section 60126(a)(1) of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking and at the end; (2) in subparagraph (E), by inserting and at the end; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) a list of all applications submitted and licenses granted in accordance therewith, listed by tier as defined in regulation, as well as the rationale for each tier categorization; . (e) Sunset Section 60126 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking September 30, 2020 and inserting September 30, 2030 .

Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1325 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To provide for transparent licensing of commercial remote sensing systems, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 . 2. Annual reports (a) Deadlines (1) In general Section 60121(c) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking 120 and inserting 60 . (2) Conforming amendment Section 60126(a)(1)(E) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking 120 and inserting 60 . (b) Notifications Section 60126(a)(2) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking section 60122; and and inserting paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 60122(b); . (c) Conditions Section 60126(a) of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: (3) all terms, conditions, or restrictions placed on licensees pursuant to section 60122; and . (d) Tiers Section 60126(a)(1) of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking and at the end; (2) in subparagraph (E), by inserting and at the end; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) a list of all applications submitted and licenses granted in accordance therewith, listed by tier as defined in regulation, as well as the rationale for each tier categorization; . (e) Sunset Section 60126 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking September 30, 2020 and inserting September 30, 2030 .

Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1325 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 13, 2025 Mr. Lucas (for himself and Ms. Lofgren ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To provide for transparent licensing of commercial remote sensing systems, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 . 2. Annual reports (a) Deadlines (1) In general Section 60121(c) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking 120 and inserting 60 . (2) Conforming amendment Section 60126(a)(1)(E) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking 120 and inserting 60 . (b) Notifications Section 60126(a)(2) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking section 60122; and and inserting paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 60122(b); . (c) Conditions Section 60126(a) of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: (3) all terms, conditions, or restrictions placed on licensees pursuant to section 60122; and . (d) Tiers Section 60126(a)(1) of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking and at the end; (2) in subparagraph (E), by inserting and at the end; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) a list of all applications submitted and licenses granted in accordance therewith, listed by tier as defined in regulation, as well as the rationale for each tier categorization; . (e) Sunset Section 60126 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking September 30, 2020 and inserting September 30, 2030 .