Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
In Committee
Summary
National Mesonet Program expansion to pull more non‑Federal weather data into NOAA forecasts. The bill requires the Under Secretary to run the Program inside the National Weather Service, boost the number and types of local and regional sensors, and coordinate those observations with satellite and ocean data to improve forecasts, nowcasts, warnings, and subseasonal to seasonal prediction.
Show full summary
- Families and communities will get better local warnings and hyperlocal forecasts because the Program aims to increase observation density and help the National Weather Service reach a 30-minute severe weather warning goal.
- Farmers, water managers, and emergency managers will gain more soil moisture, vegetation water content, and road surface data to support drought monitoring, irrigation decisions, and road-weather responses.
- State, Tribal, private, and academic networks can receive technical and financial assistance. At least 15 percent of annual Program funds are reserved for grants and recipients must commit to sustain data quality and operations for 5 years, with priority for remote or underserved areas.
*Authorizes about $304 million in appropriations across fiscal years 2025–2029 to fund the Program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New national mesonet program
This bill would require NOAA to run a National Mesonet Program inside the National Weather Service. It would fund the program with $50 million for FY2025, $55 million for FY2026, $61 million for FY2027, $68 million for FY2028, and $70 million for FY2029. At least 15% of each year’s money would go as grants to State, Tribal, private, or academic groups to build or upgrade local monitoring stations. Grant recipients would need to show non-Federal funding and keep systems and data quality for at least five years. The program would buy only cost‑effective, high‑quality data, support more soil, roadway, boundary‑layer, and coastal observations, and help NWS reach a 30‑minute severe‑weather warning goal. NOAA would set up an expert advisory group and give Congress annual briefings through 2035, due by June 30 each year.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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