Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedReported by Mr. Cruz, without amendment and with an amendment …
Passed Senate (inferred from es version)
Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cornyn, …
Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cornyn, …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill updates and expands federal programs to monitor, research, and respond to harmful algal blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" (hypoxia) in all U.S. waters - oceans, coasts, lakes, and rivers. It adds the Department of Energy to the federal task force, requires comprehensive action strategies every 5 years, and creates a new innovation program to develop technologies that can prevent or control these environmental threats.
Who Benefits and How
Research universities and environmental technology companies benefit through new grant funding opportunities for developing harmful algal bloom control technologies. Indigenous tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and subsistence communities gain mandatory consultation rights and access to real-time water quality data and toxin testing services tailored for rural and remote areas. The seafood industry receives enhanced protection through improved forecasting, resilience support, and expanded testing access. NOAA and EPA gain .5 million annually (2026-2030) to expand their monitoring and research capabilities, with NOAA receiving .5M and EPA receiving M.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Taxpayers bear the cost of .5 million in new annual appropriations from 2026 through 2030. Federal agencies face increased administrative burdens including expanded coordination requirements, mandatory consultation with multiple stakeholder groups, 5-year action strategy reports to Congress with regional chapters, and new operational programs. Agriculture and fertilizer industries may face increased scrutiny as consultation partners, given their connection to nutrient runoff that contributes to harmful algal blooms.
Key Provisions
- Adds Department of Energy to the Interagency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia and mandates comprehensive 5-year action strategies with regional chapters
- Creates a national incubator program to fund and assess innovative technologies for preventing and controlling harmful algal blooms, prioritizing solutions that benefit disadvantaged communities
- Establishes new EPA responsibilities for freshwater harmful algal bloom research, monitoring, and forecasting in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs
- Requires mandatory consultation with Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, subsistence communities, and rural populations
- Expands access to toxin testing for subsistence and recreational harvesters through innovative methods designed for rural and remote areas
- Provides real-time water quality observation data to state, local, and tribal entities for decision-making
- Supports seafood industry resilience through enhanced monitoring, forecasting, and testing capabilities
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to expand research, monitoring, forecasting, and response capabilities for harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events in marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems, with enhanced focus on subsistence communities, Indian tribes, and innovative control technologies.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"The bill significantly expands federal monitoring, research, and response capabilities for harmful algal blooms and hypoxia across all water systems (marine, estuarine, and freshwater), with particular attention to subsistence communities, Indian tribes, and rural populations. It establishes new EPA responsibilities for freshwater systems, creates an innovation incubator program for control technologies, and mandates enhanced consultation with indigenous communities and subsistence users."
Likely Beneficiaries
- NOAA - receives expanded mandate and $19.5M annually (2026-2030)
- EPA - receives new freshwater monitoring authority and $8M annually (2026-2030)
- Department of Energy - added to Interagency Task Force
- Research universities and institutions - eligible for incubator program funding
- Subsistence communities and indigenous tribes - enhanced consultation, tailored testing access, and resource protection
- Seafood industry - resilience support and improved testing access
- Regional coastal observing systems - enhanced role in national network
- Low-income and rural communities - prioritized for protection and services
Likely Burden Bearers
- Federal agencies (NOAA, EPA) - increased coordination, reporting, and consultation requirements
- Taxpayers - $27.5M annually in new appropriations (2026-2030)
- States and local governments - enhanced consultation requirements
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_task_force"
- → Interagency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA)
- "the_task_force"
- → Interagency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia (includes Department of Energy)
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA)
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA)
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA)
- "integrated_ocean_observing_system"
- → NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System
- "national_centers_for_coastal_ocean_science"
- → NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA)
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA)
Note: No significant scope conflicts identified. The Under Secretary consistently refers to the NOAA Administrator and the Administrator consistently refers to the EPA Administrator throughout the bill.
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
A condition where marine or freshwater systems have decreased dissolved oxygen concentrations to levels that adversely affect marine or freshwater species
Has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)
The action strategy for harmful algal blooms in the United States most recently submitted under section 603(c)
The customary and traditional use of fish, wildlife, or other freshwater, coastal, or marine resources by any individual or community to meet personal or family needs, including essential economic, nutritional, or cultural applications
The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA Administrator)
A high concentration of marine or freshwater algae (including diatoms), macroalgae (including Sargassum), or cyanobacteria resulting in nuisance conditions or harmful impacts on marine and freshwater ecosystems, subsistence resources, communities, or human health through the production of toxic compounds or other biological, chemical, or physical impacts of the bloom
Has the meaning given that term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517) and includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)
The occurrence of a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia as a result of a natural, anthropogenic, or undetermined cause
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology