Smoke Exposure Research Act

S 1042, the Smoke Exposure Research Act, directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund research on wildfire smoke taint affecting wine grapes, directly benefiting vineyards and wineries in California, Oregon, and Washington. The bill mandates research to identify smoke-related compounds, develop fast testing methods for smoke-affected grapes and wine, create a database of natural taint levels, and explore mitigation tools to reduce smoke damage. It requires coordination with land-grant universities in those states and allocates $6.5 million annually from 2026 to 2030 for this research. The focus is on creating practical solutions for the wine industry facing increasing wildfire smoke exposure.