Congress·Reported·S. 613

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

Congress directs NOAA to expand local weather sensors to improve flood, drought, and farm forecasts

Oct 21, 2025·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Part of: Congress Moves to Expand National Weather and Soil Monitoring Networks

This bill is one vehicle in a longer effort. See the full story across every version.View effort →

StalledNext up: The SenateNo action in 8 months

The Senate must act next: a Senate floor vote.

Legislative Progress

Senate

No action since October 2025

House

President

Law

How we got here

This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.

Reintroduced
Reintroduced from S. 4901 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
S. 4901 (118th) →

Key Points

Congress would require the Commerce Department’s weather leadership to keep running the National Mesonet Program, which gathers local weather and soil data.
The plan pushes NOAA and the National Weather Service to use more high-density data (like local weather stations, soil moisture sensors, and road condition sensors) to improve neighborhood-level forecasts and warnings.
States, Tribes, private groups, and universities could get grants to build or upgrade local sensor networks, but they must share data, meet quality rules, and help pay to maintain systems for at least 5 years.
At least 15% of the program’s yearly funding could go toward these grants, with priority for remote places or areas that don’t have enough monitoring stations.
Congress would get annual briefings through 2035 on progress, gaps in weather observations, and whether more coastal/ocean monitoring is needed.

Climate ChangeEnvironmentAgricultureTransportationInfrastructure

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)

Tribal Member

Neutral

Positive Impacts(7)

Small Business Owner

Helps

Farmer Rancher

Helps

Housing Assistance

Helps

Homeowner

Helps

Renter

Helps

Gig Worker

Helps

Military Active

Helps

Milestones

4 milestones5 actions

Oct 21, 2025Senate

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 194.

The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.

Oct 21, 2025Senate

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-83.

The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.

Mar 12, 2025Senate

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.

Feb 18, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Feb 18, 2025

Introduced in Senate

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 613

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 194.

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)

R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.