S. 613 · On the floor · Science, Technology, Communications

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

Sponsor: Brian Schatz (D-HI)

What it does

• Provides statutory authority for NOAA's National Mesonet Program, a national network of local automated weather and soil observation stations.
• Requires the program to obtain observations that improve understanding and forecasting of atmospheric, drought, fire, and water events and to integrate more observation types each year.
• Limits data acquisition to what is demonstrably cost effective and meets data quality standards.
• Requires at least 15% of annual program funds to go to state, tribal, private, and academic entities building or upgrading mesonet equipment, with priority for remote and unmonitored areas.
• Requires funded entities to share data with the program and requires an active advisory committee of subject matter experts.

Official summary

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025 This 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…

Latest action

Oct 21, 2025: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 194.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation