This bill reauthorizes and updates the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), a federal program that tracks and forecasts drought conditions across the United States. The legislation expands NIDIS's mission to include new priorities such as flash drought research, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, improved data collection on snowpack and soil moisture, and better coordination with other federal water monitoring programs. The bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a plan within one year to incorporate improved drought forecasting models into its predictions. To support these efforts, the bill authorizes funding of $15 million in fiscal year 2026, increasing incrementally to $17 million by fiscal year 2030. The changes aim to help water managers, farmers, and communities better prepare for and respond to drought conditions through more advanced tools and coordinated federal data sharing.
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