Regional Ocean Partnerships Reauthorization Act

What it does

• •Extends authorization and funding for Regional Ocean Partnerships through fiscal year 2031, with appropriations ranging from $10,630,812 (FY 2028) to $10,975,462 (FY 2031).
• •Requires Regional Ocean Partnerships to submit reports not only initially but also within 5 years of the Act's enactment.
• •Prohibits Regional Ocean Partnerships from using federal funds to develop regulatory proposals, model regulations, or compliance programs.
• •Makes technical corrections to the underlying statute, including capitalization changes, geographic designation updates (replacing 'Mexico' with 'America'), and removal of Vermont from certain provisions.

Why it matters

• •Reauthorizes a federal program supporting regional coordination on ocean management and coastal issues, ensuring continuity of funding and operations.
• •The funding prohibition on regulatory development activities constrains how partnerships may use federal resources, limiting their role in creating compliance frameworks.
• •Establishes a new reporting requirement 5 years post-enactment to assess program performance and outcomes over the extended authorization period.

Who is affected

• •Regional Ocean Partnerships, including Regional Coastal Partnerships and Regional Great Lakes Partnerships that receive federal funding.
• •Coastal states and the Great Lakes region that participate in or rely on these partnerships for ocean and coastal management coordination.
• •Federal agencies that oversee and coordinate with these regional partnerships.

What happens next

The bill was reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on September 14, 2026, and awaits further Senate action.