A bill to amend the Digital Coast Act to improve the acquisition, integration, and accessibility of data of the Digital Coast program and to extend the program.

# Digital Coast Act Amendment - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill updates and extends the Digital Coast program, a federal initiative that collects and shares coastal data. If passed, it would improve how the program acquires, combines, and makes coastal information available to the public. The bill makes technical updates to the original Digital Coast Act to ensure the program continues operating and can better serve its mission of providing accessible data about coastal areas. **Who It Affects** The bill impacts coastal states and communities, environmental researchers, fisheries managers, and the general public. It affects federal and state agencies that work together on coastal management, as well as anyone who uses coastal data for planning, environmental protection, or research purposes.

The improvements aim to make this information easier for state and local governments to access and use. **Current Status** The bill (S. 2245) has passed the Senate and is moving through the legislative process. It was sponsored by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and covers topics related to technology, environmental monitoring, coastal resources, and how federal and state governments coordinate data sharing.