MATCH Act of 2025

This bill proposes to modify the Department of Agriculture's Emergency Watershed Protection program to allow state, local, and tribal sponsors to begin certain emergency recovery measures before a formal project agreement is finalized. The Department of Agriculture would be required to identify specific eligible activities and establish a state-level procedure for sponsors to request approval for additional emergency measures. Under the bill, the costs incurred by sponsors for these pre-agreement activities would count toward their required financial contribution once a formal agreement is established.

This legislation affects state and local governments as well as Indian tribes that serve as sponsors for projects under the Department of Agriculture's Emergency Watershed Protection program. These entities would be permitted to begin specific emergency watershed protection measures and incur related costs before finalized project agreements are in place. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture is affected as it must identify eligible measures and develop state-level procedures for sponsors to request additional pre-agreement activities.

• Authorization of pre-agreement emergency watershed measures. Allows state, local, and tribal sponsors to begin certain emergency watershed protection activities before a formal project agreement with the USDA is finalized.
• Identification of eligible pre-agreement activities. Requires the USDA to create a specific list of emergency measures for which sponsors may incur costs prior to entering into a formal agreement.
• State-level procedure for additional measures. Directs the USDA to establish a process at the state level for sponsors to request the inclusion of additional emergency protection measures not already on the pre-approved list.
• Credit for sponsor contributions. Mandates that the USDA count costs incurred by a sponsor for approved measures prior to an agreement toward the sponsor's required financial contribution for the project.

This bill modifies the Department of Agriculture's existing Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program by altering the financial and procedural requirements for project sponsors. It specifically changes how pre-agreement costs are credited toward a sponsor's required contribution for emergency watershed protection measures.

The bill aims to streamline the Emergency Watershed Protection program by allowing state, local, and tribal sponsors to begin emergency measures before formalizing a project agreement with the USDA. It ensures that costs incurred by sponsors for these early actions are credited toward their required financial contribution to the project.