What This Bill Does
This House bill would authorize the President to declare a “smoke emergency” and take emergency action in response to dangerous smoke conditions. It is aimed at situations where wildfire smoke, industrial smoke, or other widespread smoke events create public-health and transportation disruptions across multiple states or regions. The bill would likely give federal agencies a clearer trigger for coordinating response, mobilizing resources, and supporting affected communities, businesses, and infrastructure. Because it is framed as an emergency authority, its effects would be concentrated during severe smoke events rather than in ordinary day-to-day conditions.
- Authorizes the President to declare a “smoke emergency.”
- Applies to severe smoke conditions that cross local or regional boundaries.
- Referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
- Also referred to the Small Business and Budget Committees.
- Introduced in the House on June 10, 2026.
Who This Bill Affects
For the general public, this bill would matter most during major smoke events by giving the federal government a specific emergency tool to coordinate response. That could improve access to federal assistance, speed interagency action, and help protect people who are most vulnerable to smoke exposure, especially in heavily affected regions. Outside of those events, it would not change everyday life much.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Public-health advocates They would likely argue that smoke emergencies are a real and growing hazard that can cause immediate respiratory and cardiovascular harm. A formal declaration could speed coordination and help protect vulnerable people before conditions worsen.
- State and local emergency managers They may support a clearer federal trigger for assistance when smoke overwhelms local response capacity. A national declaration can make it easier to align agencies, share resources, and communicate risk to the public.
- Outdoor workers and employers They could favor a framework that helps governments issue timely guidance and support during dangerous air-quality events. Clear federal action can reduce confusion about closures, work restrictions, and protective measures.
- Fiscal conservatives They may worry that a new emergency authority could expand federal spending and administrative commitments without clear limits. They may also question whether existing disaster and public-health tools already cover smoke-related crises.
- Civil-liberties and oversight advocates They could be concerned about broad emergency powers being triggered by a condition that may be difficult to define precisely. Their concern would be that emergency declarations can outlast the immediate crisis or be used too expansively.
- Small businesses in affected regions They may support public safety goals but worry that emergency declarations could lead to closures, compliance costs, or operational disruptions. Businesses that depend on in-person traffic or outdoor activity could face lost revenue during smoke events.
Key Implications
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““authorize the President to declare a smoke emergency””
This creates a formal federal emergency trigger for smoke-related crises. In real-world terms, it can unlock faster coordination and response when air quality becomes dangerous across a wide area.
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““and for other purposes””
This standard legislative phrase signals that the bill may include related implementing authorities or administrative changes. For the public, that can mean the final operational details may extend beyond the headline emergency declaration.
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““Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure””
The bill is being reviewed by the committee with jurisdiction over transportation and related emergency-response issues. That matters because committee action is where the bill can be revised, narrowed, or advanced.
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““in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and the Budget””
Additional committee referrals suggest the bill could affect business operations and federal spending. Those committees may examine costs, impacts on employers, and budgetary consequences.
Latest Status
June 10, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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Ask AI about this billData sourced from api.congress.gov.