S. 5045 · Passed Senate · Environmental Protection

Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2026

What it does

Amends the Clean Air Act to classify prescribed fires, including cultural burning activities conducted by Indian tribes, as exceptional events exempt from air quality monitoring under specified conditions.
Directs the EPA Administrator to revise regulations within 270 days to reduce burden on states demonstrating exceptional events, clarify prescribed fire eligibility, and establish a state petition review process.
Establishes that state petitions for exceptional event designations must be approved, disapproved, or approved-in-part within one year of submission, or be automatically deemed approved.
Authorizes the EPA to award competitive grants up to 90 percent of costs to states, Indian tribes, and other eligible entities for assessing and reducing wildfire smoke hazards in schools and community buildings.
Directs the EPA to conduct multi-jurisdictional analyses and lead regional, national, or international exceptional event demonstrations at the request of state, local, or tribal authorities.

Oct 5, 2026: Held at the desk.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works