Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025
Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary: Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025 **What It Does** This bill would officially authorize the National Mesonet Program (NMP), a NOAA weather monitoring system. The bill essentially gives legal backing to a program that already exists but currently lacks formal congressional approval. Mesonets are networks of automated weather stations spread across the country that collect real-time data on atmospheric conditions, soil moisture, and other environmental factors. The bill requires the program to improve forecasting for floods, droughts, fires, and water-related events by gathering more types of environmental data each year. **Who It Affects & Key Provisions** The bill primarily affects farmers, emergency management officials, and the general public who depend on accurate weather and flood forecasts.
A key requirement is that NOAA can only add new data sources to the network if they're cost-effective and meet established quality standards—meaning taxpayer money won't be spent on unreliable data. The program would focus on better predicting extreme weather events and agricultural conditions. **Current Status** The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It has not yet advanced to become law.
CRS Official Summary
Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025This bill provides statutory authority for the National Mesonet Program (NMP) maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (Mesonets are networks of automated weather and soil observation stations that collect data used in measuring, tracking, and forecasting weather and its effects. The NMP is a national network of local mesonets that collects and disseminates non-federal atmospheric weather observations in the United States.)The bill sets forth certain requirements for the NMP, including that the program must obtain weather observations in order to improve understanding and forecasting of atmospheric, drought, fire, and water events, and establish means to integrate increased numbers and types of environmental observations into the program annually. However, NOAA may obtain data under the program only when it is demonstrably cost effective and meets or exceeds certain data quality standards. Of funds appropriated to the program annually, NOAA must award at least 15% to state, tribal, private, and academic entities seeking to build, expand, or upgrade mesonet system equipment and capacity. Entities receiving funds must agree to provide data to the NMP. In allocating funding, NOAA must prioritize providing funds to entities in remote areas and areas that lack environmental monitoring stations. NOAA must also ensure the NMP has an active advisory committee, comprised of subject matter experts, to make recommendations on data needs and procurement, among other topics.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.