Rep. Sorensen. U.S. House bill would create independent board to investigate major severe weather disasters

The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen in the U.S. House aims to establish an independent board to investigate disasters related to severe weather events, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.7848 was introduced on March 5, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill establishes the National Weather Safety Board as an independent entity to investigate major disasters related to severe weather events. The board will consist of at least seven members appointed by the President, who must have relevant professional backgrounds in areas such as atmospheric sciences and emergency management. Within 180 days of enactment, the board will develop a system to gather information about covered major disasters, including the number of people affected and the economic impact. Following a severe weather event declared a covered disaster, the board must vote within 14 days on whether to conduct an investigation. Preliminary reports will be submitted within 90 days after the disaster’s conclusion, with final reports due 20 months later. The board will be dissolved five years after its final member is confirmed.

The bill was introduced only by Rep. Eric Sorensen (Democrat-IL-17th District).

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Sorensen has introduced another seven bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Eric Sorensen is a Representative from Illinois, having been elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress and the succeeding Congress. He graduated with a B.S. from Northern Illinois University in 1999 after attending Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois.