Sponsor
David J. Taylor
Representative · R-OH
Representative · R-OH
Requires an interagency working group to improve U.S. Drought Monitor data and methods, revises the authorization for Drought Monitor funding, and mandates agency coordination via an MOU.
Official title: To amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to extend the program providing for improvements to the United States Drought Monitor.
Introduced September 26, 2025 by David J. Taylor · Last progress September 26, 2025
The bill improves drought monitoring, scientific transparency, and interagency coordination—helping farmers, utilities, and governments plan and respond better—but creates budget and implementation risks (including potential funding uncertainty, added costs, rushed timelines, and the possibility of overlooking local conditions).
Farmers, water utilities, state and local governments will get more accurate, timely, and actionable drought data and gap analyses that improve local drought planning, reduce crop and water-supply losses, and support better agricultural and water-management decisions.
USDA could receive updated authorizations and funding to maintain and improve the U.S. Drought Monitor, enabling upgrades and sustained capacity for drought forecasting and monitoring.
Federal agencies and programs (including those administering grazing permits and assistance triggers) will align drought-severity determinations with the U.S. Drought Monitor and receive coordinated recommendations and timelines, producing clearer triggers for assistance and more consistent treatment for ranchers and permittees.
If the bill reduces or removes the existing $5 million annual authorization, USDA may have less capacity to maintain or upgrade the Drought Monitor, degrading forecasting accuracy and harming rural communities and state water managers.
If the amendment increases authorized spending without offsets, taxpayers could face higher federal outlays to fund upgrades, new data access, or coordination activities.
Implementing recommended data-access changes and system upgrades (including negotiating data-sharing agreements) could impose costs on federal and state agencies and taxpayers and require agency resources.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Creates an interagency working group and new coordination requirements to improve the data, methods, and agency alignment used to produce the U.S. Drought Monitor, and updates the statute that authorizes funding for Drought Monitor improvements. It requires the Department of Agriculture to convene the group within 180 days, produce a report with recommendations within one year, incorporate practicable recommendations, and directs the Forest Service and Farm Service Agency to sign an MOU to align drought-response practices after the report is delivered.