Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a federal smoke emergency declaration to unlock targeted aid for communities and small businesses. The 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 and allow states to request that help.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for smoke-hit small businesses
If enacted, the Small Business Administration Administrator would be able to give grants to small businesses that lose a significant amount of revenue because of wildland fire smoke. The business must meet the Small Business Act definition of a small business concern and show the revenue loss happened in an area where the President declared a smoke emergency under this Act. The bill does not set grant sizes or formulas.
Federal smoke emergency help
If enacted, the President would be able to declare a smoke emergency in any State with current or expected large drops in air quality from wildland fire smoke. The President would direct FEMA and other federal agencies to give help to States and local communities affected or likely to be affected. Help would include grants, equipment, supplies, personnel, smoke shelters, air purifiers, and added air monitoring sites. Assistance would be available only when the President declares a smoke emergency.
Funding and budget rules for smoke aid
If enacted, the bill would authorize Congress to appropriate whatever sums are necessary to carry out this Act. It would also change budget rules so Congress can designate discretionary appropriations as 'smoke emergency assistance.' The annual adjustment would equal the total of those designated appropriations, and those sums would not be eligible for certain other adjustments that year. The change does not itself provide money.
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