Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Presidential smoke emergency declaration authority. This bill would let the President declare a smoke emergency when wildland fire smoke causes or is expected to cause a significant drop in air quality in one or more States. That declaration would trigger federal help through FEMA and other agencies.
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- States and local communities: Federal agencies could provide grants, equipment, supplies, and personnel to set up smoke shelters, supply air purifiers, and add air monitoring sites.
- Small businesses: The Small Business Administration could make grants to small businesses that lose a significant amount of revenue because of wildland fire smoke in an area covered by a smoke emergency.
- Federal budget rules: It creates a new "smoke emergency assistance" budget adjustment in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act. Appropriations Congress designates as smoke emergency assistance would be counted under that adjustment and would not be eligible for the other annual adjustment under subparagraph (A).
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal smoke emergency help for communities
If enacted, the bill would let the President declare a smoke emergency when wildland fire smoke sharply lowers air quality. A Governor or appropriate State agency could ask the President for that declaration. If a declaration is made, FEMA and other federal agencies would be able to give grants, equipment, supplies, personnel, smoke shelters, air purifiers, and extra air monitors. The SBA Administrator would be able to give grants to small businesses that lose a significant amount of revenue in declared smoke emergency areas; SBA grants would be discretionary and limited to small businesses as defined in the Small Business Act.
Funding and budget rules for smoke aid
If enacted, the bill would authorize Congress to appropriate "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out smoke emergency programs. It would also change budget law so that when Congress labels discretionary spending in statute as "smoke emergency assistance," the annual budget adjustment equals the total of those designated appropriations. Appropriations designated that way in a fiscal year would not also be eligible for the separate adjustment under subparagraph (A) for that year.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov