Sponsors (3)
The bill increases predictability and transparency for hurricane-related crop indemnities by standardizing data rules and allowing certified local weather data, but its reliance on IBTrACS and strict technical/certification requirements could delay or exclude payments for some farmers and imposes administrative burdens on agencies and land-grant stations.
Farmers in eligible counties will have clearer, standardized HIP–WI indemnity eligibility rules starting in crop year 2027, improving predictability for hurricane-related crop-loss payments.
Farmers and rural communities can use certified local land-grant university weather-station data when national data are incomplete, enabling claims where NWS data were damaged or unavailable.
Farmers and rural stakeholders gain increased transparency because the Department must publish alternative data sets used to trigger HIP–WI payments on its webpage.
Farmers in counties where IBTrACS lacks local observations may face delayed or denied indemnity because IBTrACS is required as the primary data source, risking untimely or lost payments.
Farmers and rural communities could still be excluded from relief when tight technical requirements (matching IBTrACS fields and NWS certification) disqualify valid local observations after data loss.
State governments, USDA/RMA, and land-grant stations will face administrative burden and potential compliance costs to certify/compile alternative data sets and issue implementing rules within 180 days.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires USDA to use NOAA IBTrACS to determine county eligibility for HIP–WI indemnity payments starting in crop year 2027, and to publish a certified alternative dataset if IBTrACS is incomplete.
Creates new rules for determining which counties qualify for Hurricane Insurance Protection–Wind Index (HIP–WI) indemnity payments starting with crop year 2027. It requires the Secretary to use the NOAA IBTrACS hurricane dataset as the primary source, to publish a Department-compiled alternative dataset when IBTrACS is incomplete under limited conditions, and to issue implementing rules and updated HIP–WI guidance within 180 days of enactment.
Introduced February 10, 2026 by Buddy Carter · Last progress February 10, 2026