This bill will ensure Nevada’s farmers and ranchers have access to forecasts that will improve their resilience to weather anomalies.
I will improve weather forecasting to help farmers and ranchers become more resilient to weather anomalies.
Occurrences
This bipartisan legislation will improve forecasting ability, ensure our communities are aware of weather risks as quickly as possible, and support farmers and ranchers whose livelihoods depend on being prepared.
I'll keep pushing for commonsense solutions that allow us to better adapt to climate change and become more resilient.
Evidence
Senator Rosen's Smarter Weather Forecasting for Water Management, Farming, and Ranching Act creates new subseasonal and seasonal forecasting pilot projects under NOAA to improve advanced forecasts ranging between two weeks to two years, establishing more consistent short-term and long-term weather forecasting. This would help farmers and ranchers be more prepared for potential weather anomalies, such as flash floods or extreme drought.
The bipartisan Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, co-sponsored by Senator Rosen, includes provisions to advance subseasonal to seasonal forecasting to support farmers, ranchers, and water managers by improving weather outlooks weeks to months in advance.
Senator Rosen co-sponsored the FORECAST Act of 2025, which aims to improve subseasonal-to-seasonal weather forecasting efforts at NOAA through investments in advanced approaches, benefiting farmers and ranchers.
Senator Jacky Rosen’s bill to improve weather forecasting for Nevada farmers and ranchers passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation as part of the bipartisan Weather Act. The release says the bill creates NOAA subseasonal and seasonal forecasting pilot projects to improve forecasts ranging from two weeks to two years.
GovInfo records that S. 3923 was introduced by Sen. Cruz with Sen. Rosen among the named senators, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill’s purpose is to improve NOAA weather research and forecasting and expand weather-data opportunities.
The bill text directs NOAA to establish at least two subseasonal-to-seasonal precipitation forecast pilot projects, including one for water management in drought-prone, reservoir-dependent areas and one for agriculture in the central United States.
The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously advanced S. 3923, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, by voice vote on March 4, 2026, with amendments including Rosen 1 incorporated into the package.
GovInfo lists S. 3923 as introduced in the Senate on February 25, 2026 and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously advanced S. 3923 on March 4, 2026, including a Rosen amendment, but the bill remained a committee-stage measure.
GovInfo lists S. 3923 as introduced on February 25, 2026, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The record names Jacky Rosen as a cosponsor and describes the bill as improving NOAA weather research, forecasting, and prediction.
The Senate Commerce Committee announced the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, with Jacky Rosen among the cosponsors. The release says the bill would advance subseasonal-to-seasonal forecasting to support farmers, ranchers, and water managers with improved outlooks weeks to months ahead.
The bill text includes Title V, 'Improving Weather Information for Agriculture and Water Management,' and directs NOAA to improve subseasonal-to-seasonal temperature and precipitation forecasts, including connections to droughts, fires, floods, heat waves, and other high-impact weather disasters.
Section 501 would require NOAA to establish at least two subseasonal-to-seasonal forecasting pilot projects to support improved precipitation forecasts, including one for water management in drought-prone reservoir-dependent areas and one for agriculture in the central United States.
The agriculture pilot would address science challenges in improving forecasts and agriculture-related products, including better observations and modeling of soil moisture, flash drought, warm-season precipitation, upper-level flow anomalies, and water availability for agriculture.
The Senate Commerce Committee said it unanimously advanced S. 3923, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, by voice vote and that the bill was amended by Rosen 1, as modified.
Rosen’s office said her Smarter Weather Forecasting for Water Management, Farming, and Ranching Act was included in the bipartisan Weather Act and passed the Senate Commerce Committee. The release says the bill would create NOAA pilot projects for forecasts ranging from two weeks to two years and that Rosen said it was closer to becoming law.
Senator Markey’s office announced the FORECAST Act of 2025, cosponsored by Jacky Rosen, to improve NOAA subseasonal-to-seasonal weather forecasting through advanced forecasting approaches. Rosen said she was helping introduce the bipartisan bill to improve forecasting and weather modeling technology.
The FORECAST Act bill text names Rosen among the introducing senators and states that the bill was read twice and referred to committee. It would require NOAA to produce usable, reliable, and timely subseasonal-to-seasonal temperature and precipitation forecasts and provide information on links to droughts, fires, floods, heat waves, and other disasters.
The one-pager says NOAA needs improvements in research-to-operations capacity, computing, data assimilation, emerging technologies, and workforce talent for subseasonal-to-seasonal forecasting. It summarizes the FORECAST Act as directing NOAA to improve S2S forecast predictability and operationalize emerging technologies.
Assessments
Rosen materially advanced legislation matching the promise: she cosponsored S. 3923, backed provisions for NOAA subseasonal-to-seasonal forecasting pilots for agriculture and water management, and her related amendment/provisions advanced through the Senate Commerce Committee in March 2026. However, the available official record still shows the measure short of enactment or implementation, and there is no evidence that improved forecasting services for farmers and ranchers were actually delivered. Under the instruction for serious but unsuccessful legislative attempts, this is not fulfilled, with effort credit.
Rosen clearly made a serious legislative effort: she co-sponsored and amended weather-forecasting legislation aimed at NOAA pilot projects for subseasonal and seasonal forecasts that would help farmers and ranchers plan for droughts, floods, and other anomalies. But the evidence only shows introduction and committee advancement in 2025-2026, not final enactment, implementation, or demonstrated improvement in forecasting services. Under the stated rule, a serious attempt that did not deliver the promised outcome counts as never, with effort credit.
Rosen clearly worked on weather-forecasting legislation for farmers and ranchers, including co-sponsoring and advancing NOAA-focused bills through committee, but the evidence stops at introduction and committee passage. There is no sign of enactment, implementation, or measurable improvement in forecasting, so the promise was not delivered.
Rosen sponsored or co-sponsored legislation aimed at improving NOAA subseasonal and seasonal weather forecasting for farmers and ranchers, and her proposal advanced out of Senate committee as part of a broader bipartisan Weather Act. However, the evidence shows committee advancement and bill introduction rather than enactment, implementation, or actual improved forecasting services. This is a serious legislative effort in the relevant federal office context, but the promised outcome has not been delivered.
Senator Rosen introduced and co-sponsored multiple bills aiming to improve weather forecasting, specifically targeting the needs of farmers and ranchers. These efforts included establishing pilot programs and advancing NOAA's forecasting capabilities for enhanced agricultural preparedness. However, there is no conclusive evidence indicating the full implementation or nationwide adoption of these improvements, nor clear demonstration of direct, measurable outcomes for farmers and ranchers. Significant legislative effort was present and legislative steps were made, but full delivery of the promise cannot be confirmed.