Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025

Summary

Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 This bill makes certain changes related to the licensing of private remote sensing space systems. (Under current regulations, remote sensing 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; private remote sensing space systems refer to remote sensing instruments not owned by the U.S. government.) 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. 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. The bill also reinstates this annual reporting requirement, which expired on September 30, 2020, through September 30, 2030.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology · U.S. House of Representatives

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Cosponsors

Full history

1. Mar 25, 2025

   Sent to the executive

   Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

   U.S. Senate

2. Mar 25, 2025

   In committee

   Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

   U.S. House

3. Mar 24, 2025

   Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H1202-1204)

   Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1202-1204)

4. Mar 24, 2025

   Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H1202-1204)

   Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1202-1204)

5. Mar 24, 2025

   Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H1202-1204)

   Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1202-1204)

Read the record

• Read on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab) The official record on Congress.gov.