Improving Drought Monitoring Act

This bill extends the deadline for improving the U.S. Drought Monitor from 2023 to 2030 and establishes an interagency working group to enhance the data used in the Monitor. The working group, including representatives from USDA, NOAA, the National Drought Mitigation Center, and state mesonet programs, will develop methods to include more ground-based data, address access barriers to existing datasets, and create transparent vetting processes for remote sensing data. Within one year, the group must submit recommendations to federal agencies and congressional committees, after which the Secretary of Agriculture will incorporate feasible changes. Additionally, the Farm Service Agency and Forest Service must align their drought response efforts, including using the U.S. Drought Monitor for consistent decisions and information sharing with stakeholders.