Harmful Algal Bloom Amendments Act

Summary#

This bill would amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998. It expands federal focus from just coastal waters and the Great Lakes to marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems (lakes, rivers, reservoirs). The bill would require a Federal Task Force to produce an Action Strategy and scientific assessment for harmful algal blooms at least once every 5 years. It adds the Department of Energy to the Task Force, requires wider consultation with States, Indian tribes, local governments, and industry, and asks agencies to avoid duplicating work.

The bill sets specific roles for NOAA and the EPA. NOAA would carry out response activities for harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events, develop observing and forecasting programs, study how storms affect nutrient resuspension and blooms, and follow data standards for observations. The EPA would research freshwater blooms and develop operational freshwater monitoring and forecasting programs and coordinate with NOAA in shared waters such as the Great Lakes and estuaries.

The bill would establish a National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network that integrates federal, state, regional, and local observing systems. It would create a national-level incubator program to test and fund new strategies, technologies, and measures to prevent, mitigate, and control harmful algal blooms. The bill updates definitions (including harmful algal bloom and subsistence use), expands consultation with tribal and local stakeholders, and requires regional chapters in the Action Strategy.

The bill also amends the National Integrated Drought Information System provisions to allow waiving non-federal cost shares in some cases, allow grants and contracts to reimburse entities that assess events of national significance, expand who may be consulted, and authorize $2,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026–2030 for that subsection.

What it means for you#

• Agencies would be required to monitor, forecast, and share data about harmful algal blooms and hypoxia across marine and freshwater systems.
• NOAA and EPA would have clearer, assigned roles for observing, modeling, and responding to events.
• The bill directs more consultation with Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, local and rural communities, subsistence users, and industries such as fisheries and agriculture.
• A national observing network and a grant-based incubator program could support new monitoring tools and response methods and could expand access to toxin testing, including for subsistence and recreational harvesters.
• The Action Strategy (every 5 years) must examine causes, impacts, and methods to prevent and mitigate blooms, with regional chapters highlighting local issues.
• Actual new activities depend on future appropriations and the agencies’ implementation decisions.

Expenses#

• The bill authorizes annual appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 of:
  • $19,500,000 per year to the Under Secretary (NOAA); and
  • $8,000,000 per year to the Administrator (EPA).
• The bill also authorizes $2,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the added National Integrated Drought Information System subsection, to remain available until expended.
• The incubator program would provide merit-based funding using amounts otherwise available to the Under Secretary for grant awards; the bill also allows, as provided in appropriations Acts, transfers of funds among agencies with concurrence.
• No publicly available information on total estimated costs beyond these authorized amounts or on actual future appropriations.

Proponents' View#

The bill text emphasizes goals such as improving detection, forecasting, monitoring, and response for harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; protecting public health and subsistence resources; supporting seafood industry resilience; expanding access to toxin testing for subsistence and recreational harvesters; improving coordination among agencies and avoiding duplication; prioritizing protections for key habitats, biodiversity, low-income communities, Indian tribes, and rural communities; and encouraging new technologies through an incubator program.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.