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119-s-3912119th CongressWALLET

NIDIS Reauthorization Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

Introduced

Summary

Modernizes the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) to strengthen drought forecasting, broaden data partnerships, and deploy next‑generation technologies for faster, more useful drought information. It focuses on better forecasts, expanded observations, and multiyear funding.

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  • Farmers, water managers, and emergency planners get improved decision support and new tools for rapid events like flash droughts through enhanced forecasts and refined drought indicators across multiple scales.
  • Scientists and tech teams get authority and direction to advance next‑generation drought tech including artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud systems, and a required Modeling Update to integrate NOAA drought products into probabilistic forecasts within one year.
  • States, regional hydrological projects, and data providers gain stronger coordination duties and new partnership authorities, including memoranda with the National Mesonet Program and requirements to fill gaps in snowpack, soil moisture, and groundwater data.

*Authorizes about $80 million total for NIDIS across FY2026–FY2030, increasing federal spending for the program over that period.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Improved drought forecasts and tools

If enacted, the bill would broaden NIDIS duties to expand drought research, monitoring, and decision-support products. It would add flash drought research and push deployment of next-generation technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud tools. It would require use of observational networks and refinement of drought indicators across multiple scales, and direct work on data gaps such as snowpack, soil moisture, and groundwater. The bill would also require the Under Secretary, through NIDIS and the National Weather Service, to develop a plan within one year of enactment to incorporate NOAA drought products and improved dynamical and statistical models into probabilistic forecasts.

Annual funding for drought information

If enacted, the bill would authorize annual appropriations for the National Integrated Drought Information System. It would authorize $15,000,000 for FY2026; $15,500,000 for FY2027; $16,000,000 for FY2028; $16,500,000 for FY2029; and $17,000,000 for FY2030. Congress would still have to approve the actual spending each year. The money would support drought monitoring, forecasting, and decision tools used by water managers, farmers, and communities.

Change to how NIDIS coordinates

If enacted, the bill would remove statutory language that tied NIDIS explicitly to the National Weather Service and some NOAA weather and climate programs. This would give NIDIS more statutory flexibility to coordinate with other federal and non-federal partners. It would also risk complicating coordination with NOAA; the practical effect would depend on later agency agreements and implementation.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

MT • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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