This bill creates official rules for a national weather monitoring network run by NOAA called the National Mesonet Program. Think of it as a system of thousands of automated weather stations scattered across the country that collect real-time information about temperature, rainfall, soil moisture, and other environmental conditions. This data helps meteorologists predict floods, droughts, wildfires, and other weather-related disasters more accurately.

The bill requires NOAA to use this network to improve forecasting for dangerous weather events and to keep adding new types of observations and monitoring stations each year. However, NOAA can only add new data sources if they're cost-effective and meet quality standards—so they're not just collecting information for the sake of it.

To make sure the network grows and improves, the bill requires NOAA to give at least 15% of the program's annual funding to states, tribes, universities, and private companies that want to build or upgrade their own weather stations and connect them to the national network. These organizations must agree to share their data with NOAA. The bill also prioritizes funding for remote areas and places that currently don't have good weather monitoring, so the network becomes more complete across the country.

Finally, the bill sets up an advisory committee of weather and environmental experts who will advise NOAA on what data to collect and how to improve the program over time.

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

Schatz, Brian

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025This 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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;