S. 613 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 18, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStrengthens national weather and soil monitoring network
This bill officially sets up the National Mesonet Program through NOAA—a network of automated weather and soil monitoring stations across the country that collect environmental data. The program aims to improve forecasts for flooding, drought, fire, and water events. At least 15 percent of the program's annual funding must go to states, tribes, and organizations that want to build or upgrade these monitoring stations, especially in remote or under-monitored areas.
How it affects you
This mainly affects farmers, emergency managers, and communities in areas prone to floods or droughts, who would benefit from better forecasts using more detailed local weather and soil data. People in remote areas or places without many monitoring stations could see improved weather predictions in their region. Most everyday Americans won't notice a direct change, but the data collected helps power the forecasts that weather services use to warn about severe weather.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 18, 2025)
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. 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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 613
A BILL
Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) · Introduced Feb 18, 2025 · Science, Technology, Communications · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Oct 21, 2025: “Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 194.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 2 official versions.