America's 911 system would get a federally coordinated upgrade to Next Generation 9-1-1 — modern technology that handles texts, photos, video, and data, not just voice calls. The bill creates a grant program through NTIA (the Commerce Department's telecom arm) to fund state, local, and Tribal governments in making the switch, with authorization through 2031. To get funding, states must designate a single coordinator, develop an interoperability plan using open standards, establish cybersecurity protections, and show they have a sustainable long-term funding mechanism. A new national 9-1-1 Cybersecurity Center would be established to help protect these systems from cyberattacks. A 16-member advisory board of law enforcement, fire, EMS, and 911 professionals would guide implementation. The bill also includes accountability measures: any state that diverts 911 fees to non-emergency purposes loses eligibility, and entities that submit false certifications are permanently barred from future grants.
Congressional Summary
Next Generation 9–1–1 ActThis bill establishes a grant program to support implementation of next generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) systems by state, territorial, and tribal governments and requires other related activities. NG9-1-1 means a secure, interoperable, Internet Protocol-based (IP-based) system for receiving 9-1-1 requests for emergency assistance. (IP-based 9-1-1 systems have capabilities that legacy telephone systems do not, including enhanced location-finding and the ability to receive text and multimedia messages.)Under the bill, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must provide grants to state, territorial, and tribal governments (and entities established by those governments) to support the implementation and maintenance of NG9-1-1 systems. Grant funds may also be used for public outreach on NG9-1-1, implementation of cybersecurity measures, and, subject to certain limits, training and administrative costs.Entities applying for grants must submit a plan for NG9-1-1 coordination and implementation that ensures interoperability and reliability, incorporates cybersecurity tools, and meets other requirements related to technology and procurement. Applicants must also certify that they have established, or will establish within a specified time frame, a sustainable funding mechanism to support NG9-1-1 and effective cybersecurity resources.The NTIA must advise applicants on the preparation of implementation plans and provide technical assistance to grant recipients.Further, the NTIA must establish (1) an advisory board to provide recommendations with respect to the grant program and other topics related to NG9-1-1; and (2) a cybersecurity center to coordinate with state, local, and regional governments on the sharing of cybersecurity information related to NG9-1-1.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-03-11
- Date Added
- 2026-04-14