H.R. 5781 — MATCH Act of 2025

This section establishes a process for preagreement costs under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP), which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to undertake emergency measures—including floodplain easements—to protect watersheds impaired by natural disasters such as floods or wildfires. Specifically, within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must (1) identify emergency watershed protection measures that sponsors—defined as state or local governments or Indian tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304)—may incur prior to entering an EWP agreement; and (2) develop a state-level procedure, including deadlines, for sponsors to request additional such measures for a specified natural disaster. If an agreement is reached, applicable preagreement costs count toward the sponsor's project cost share; however, sponsors assume the risk of those costs, and the provision does not require the Secretary to enter any agreement.