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119-s-5145119th Congress

Wildfire Air Quality Sensor Expansion Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

Introduced

Summary

Expand portable air sensor deployment for wildfire smoke monitoring. This bill would clarify that Clean Air Act section 103 and 105 grant funds can buy and operate portable air sensors and would create competitive grant, loan, and technical assistance programs plus nationally consistent quality-assurance templates.

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  • Families and communities: Residents in rural, remote, and data-scarce areas would get better local smoke readings and public maps, including integration with the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
  • Air pollution control agencies and tribal governments: Could compete for Air Sensor Grants to buy and operate portable sensors and related equipment, with grants authorized at $10 million per year for fiscal 2027–2032.
  • States and regions: Expands EPA regional sensor loan programs to areas that do not currently participate and funds technical assistance for sensor placement, maintenance, data management, and QA plan development.

*Would authorize $10 million per year for grants from 2027 through 2032 and additional funds as necessary, increasing federal spending to support expanded wildfire air monitoring.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Expanded portable sensor loan programs

This bill would direct EPA to expand its regional air sensor loan programs and the Wildfire Smoke Air Monitoring Response Technology program into regions, States, and tribal lands that do not now participate. The expansion would focus on areas most severely affected by wildfires and wildfire smoke and would provide funding and loans of portable sensors to those areas. It would authorize "such sums as are necessary" for each fiscal year 2027 through 2032 and would take effect upon enactment.

More portable wildfire sensor grants

This bill would create a competitive EPA grant program to fund portable air sensors for air pollution control agencies. Grants would pay to buy and operate non-regulatory sensors that measure PM2.5, ozone, or other wildfire smoke pollutants. Grant-funded sensors would have to supplement, not replace, official air monitors, and recipients would need to share and adjust data for public maps such as the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map. The bill would also clarify that existing Clean Air Act section 103 and 105 grant money could be used to purchase and operate these portable sensors. It would authorize $10,000,000 per year for each fiscal year 2027 through 2032, and would take effect upon enactment.

Technical help and QA templates

This bill would require EPA to provide technical assistance to recipients of the sensor grants and loans and to Clean Air Act section 103 and 105 grant recipients buying sensors. Assistance would cover sensor placement, type selection, maintenance, data management, and quality assurance plan development, with priority for remote, rural, and data-scarce areas affected by wildfire smoke. The bill would also require EPA to publish nationally consistent Quality Assurance Project Plan templates within 180 days after enactment, developed with regional offices and stakeholders and meeting 2 C.F.R. 1500.12. It would authorize "such sums as are necessary" for each fiscal year 2027 through 2032 for technical assistance.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

NV • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 7/28/2026

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 7/28/2026

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 7/28/2026

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/30/2026

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 8/4/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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