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Congress·Reported·S. 613

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

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

5 months ago·View on Congress.gov
Part of: Congress Moves to Expand National Weather and Soil Monitoring Networks
⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

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.

Oct 21, 2025Senate

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

Mar 12, 2025Senate

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

Feb 18, 2025Senate

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

Feb 18, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law

NOAA continues operating the National Mesonet Program and starts expanding data partnerships

More local sensor data (from universities, states, tribes, and companies) can begin feeding into forecasts and warnings as agreements are set up

Within months after funding is appropriated for a fiscal year

Grant/assistance opportunities open for mesonet upgrades and new stations (including remote areas)

Local networks may apply for help to build or maintain stations, which can improve forecast quality where coverage is currently weak

Over the next 1–3 years as sensors and data feeds come online

More road-weather sensor coverage is added and integrated into real-time road condition products

Drivers and trucking routes may get better alerts for ice, fog, heavy rain, and other dangerous conditions

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.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.