Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025
The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025 updates and significantly broadens the framework for U.S. efforts to monitor, understand, predict, prevent, and respond to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia. The bill restructures governance around a Task Force that develops an Action Strategy and scientific assessments every five years, expands the scope to marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems, and strengthens interagency coordination among NOAA, EPA, and other federal, state, tribal, and local entities. It also creates new nationwide observing networks, supports an incubator program to foster new prevention and mitigation technologies, and expands funding for these activities through 2030. The amendments place greater emphasis on data sharing, regional and community impacts (including subsistence use and public health), and the needs of vulnerable communities. In short, the legislation aims to modernize and expand federal HAB/hypoxia efforts by (1) creating a recurring strategic plan and science assessments, (2) broadening the environmental scope and stakeholder focus, (3) strengthening NOAA and EPA roles in monitoring, forecasting, and data exchange, (4) establishing a national HAB observing network and an innovation incubator, and (5) increasing authorized funding and simplifying certain administrative processes to support these efforts.
Key Points
- 1Task Force, Assessments, and Action Strategy: Replaces the old "assessments" framework with a Task Force that produces an Action Strategy for HABs and hypoxia not less than every five years. The Strategy must cover marine, estuarine, and freshwater HABs across settings (Great Lakes, upper estuaries, lakes/rivers, coastal/marine waters, and blooms originating in freshwater migrating to coastal waters) and must address causes, ecological and physiological impacts, economic and cultural effects, prevention and mitigation methods, research priorities, and regional considerations.
- 2Expanded Scope and Stakeholder Focus: The Act broadens "HABs and hypoxia" to include marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems and requires consideration of environmental stressors, ecological and economic costs, subsistence uses, and regional variations. It emphasizes coordination to avoid duplication, regional chapters, and engagement with States, Indian tribes, local governments, and relevant industries, academics, and NGOs.
- 3NOAA and EPA Roles Expanded: NOAA’s activities are widened to include monitoring, observing, forecasting, modeling, data management, and information dissemination for HABs and hypoxia, with an emphasis on integrating observational systems and data standards (via IOOS). EPA is tasked with freshwater HAB/hypoxia research, monitoring, forecasting, and coordination with NOAA on cross-agency efforts, ensuring non-duplication with other programs, and leveraging partner resources.
- 4National Observing Network and Innovation: The bill creates a National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network (integrating federal, state, regional, and local observing capabilities and new technologies) and a National-Level Incubator Program to fund and assess novel HAB/Hypoxia strategies, with a database cataloging feasibility, costs, and scalability. The program prioritizes protecting habitats, biodiversity, public health, culturally important coastal resources, and benefits to low-income, tribal, and rural communities.
- 5Funding and Administrative Tools: The bill authorizes new appropriations for 2026–2030 (Under Secretary: $19.5 million per year; Administrator: $8 million per year) and adds transfer authority to move funds across agencies to support relevant title provisions. It also introduces nonduplication safeguards for EPA activities and expands authority under related drought legislation to support evaluation and rapid response to national significance HAB/hypoxia events.