This bill establishes requirements for the National Mesonet Program, a weather and environmental data collection initiative run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The program would gather observations from various sources—including commercial networks, academic institutions, soil moisture sensors, and satellite systems—to improve forecasts for severe weather, floods, droughts, and fires. The legislation requires the program to increase data density, monitor local weather conditions through soil moisture and road weather observations, and coordinate with existing federal weather systems to provide better warning times for severe weather and support agricultural and emergency management needs. The bill mandates that at least 15 percent of program funding go toward financial and technical assistance to state, tribal, private, and academic entities that build or upgrade weather monitoring equipment, with priority given to underrepresented or remote areas. Funding would increase from $50 million in fiscal year 2025 to $70 million by fiscal year 2029, and the program must provide twice-yearly briefings to Congress on its activities and progress.
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