The National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security Act of 2026 establishes a new Chief Resilience Officer within the National Security Council to lead federal efforts in preparing for natural hazards like wildfires, sea level rise, and drought. This official will create interagency working groups and a Partners Council on Resilience to coordinate with state, local, tribal, and private sector partners, ensuring that funding and resources prioritize the most vulnerable communities. The bill mandates the development of a National Resilience Strategy within two years, which must outline how federal agencies will reduce redundancies, improve disaster mitigation, and support infrastructure that can withstand environmental changes. Additionally, the act requires the creation of a central clearinghouse to share data and technical assistance, with all requirements set to expire after 10 years or upon the submission of a third assessment report.
The Wildfire Research Coordination Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Defense to create a formal agreement with the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to coordinate wildfire research efforts. This agreement, to be established within 180 days, will align specific research priorities like fire modeling and post-fire recovery across the Department of Defense, the Forest Service, and the Department of the Interior. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Defense submit a report to Congress within one year detailing the steps taken to implement this new coordination framework.
The Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2026 amends the Clean Air Act to officially recognize prescribed fires and cultural burning as "exceptional events," meaning air quality issues caused by these deliberate, managed burns will no longer be counted as violations of pollution standards. The bill requires the EPA to update its regulations within a year to clarify how these fires are defined and to streamline the process for states to petition for exemptions when wildfires or prescribed fires impact air quality. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new "Smoke Ready Communities" grant program that provides up to 90 percent federal funding to states, tribes, and local entities to help communities prepare for and mitigate wildfire smoke hazards in public buildings like schools.
The FIRE SMART Act of 2026 directs the Environmental Protection Agency to update its regulations regarding rural water infrastructure projects. Specifically, the bill requires the EPA to define "communities at high risk from fire or wildfire" and to prioritize funding for water system improvements that aid in fire suppression within these areas. Additionally, the legislation mandates that projects benefiting both drinking water and fire suppression receive priority if the community has adopted a wildfire protection plan or taken steps to reduce private property fire risks. These regulatory changes aim to ensure that federal funding for rural water systems explicitly supports wildfire prevention efforts.
The Global Climate Resilience Act of 2026 establishes a program to reduce the debt owed by vulnerable countries to the United States, directing those savings toward climate adaptation and disaster recovery efforts. To qualify for these benefits, nations must be classified as low or middle-income or small island developing states, have democratically elected governments that respect human rights, and submit plans involving local communities to build resilience against extreme weather and slow-onset climate disasters. The bill authorizes the President to cancel or exchange existing U.S. loans for new obligations tied to resilience projects and directs U.S. representatives at international financial institutions to advocate for similar debt relief and a new parametric climate insurance program at the World Bank.
The Disaster Ready Infrastructure Act of 2026 requires federal transportation planning documents to identify infrastructure vulnerable to frequent natural disasters. Specifically, it mandates that both metropolitan and statewide plans list which facilities are at risk, which are critical for maintaining operations during or after a disaster, and what improvements are needed to keep them running. This change directly affects transportation planners and agencies responsible for creating these regional and state-level plans. By adding these specific identification steps to existing laws, the bill aims to ensure that disaster resilience is a formal part of transportation planning.
The Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to evaluate and manage flood risks when planning, building, or funding projects in floodplains. Under this law, agencies must use climate-informed science to determine flood zones and generally add a safety margin of two to three feet above standard flood levels to ensure structures remain safe over their intended lifetimes. The bill mandates that agencies consider nature-based solutions to avoid building in flood-prone areas, notify local governments and the public of proposed projects in these zones, and update their standards every five years based on new scientific data. Additionally, the act requires agencies to inform private parties about flood hazards before approving financial transactions for structures in at-risk areas and to report annually on how these new requirements affect their operations.
The Federal Flood Risk Management Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to evaluate and manage flood risks when undertaking projects in or affecting floodplains. Under this law, agencies must use climate-informed science to determine flood levels, adding a safety margin of two to three feet above current base flood elevations depending on the project's criticality. The bill mandates that federal construction and funding comply with a specific risk management standard, which includes elevating structures, preserving natural floodplain functions, and notifying the public of potential flood hazards. Federal agencies are also required to inform private parties about flood risks before approving financial transactions in vulnerable areas and must submit regular reports to Congress on how these new requirements are being implemented.
This bill authorizes the President to declare a smoke emergency in states facing significant air quality drops due to wildfire smoke, either upon a request from a state governor or based on the President's own determination. Once declared, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies can provide assistance such as grants, equipment, and personnel to help communities set up smoke shelters, air purifiers, and monitoring sites. Additionally, the Small Business Administration would be able to offer grants to small businesses that lose significant revenue because of the smoke. The legislation also adjusts federal budget rules to ensure that funds designated for this specific type of emergency assistance are not subject to standard deficit reduction triggers.
This bill allows the President to declare a smoke emergency in any state facing significant air quality drops due to wildfire smoke, either based on current conditions or future predictions. Once declared, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies can provide grants, equipment, and personnel to help states and local communities set up smoke shelters, air purifiers, and monitoring sites. The legislation also authorizes the Small Business Administration to offer grants to small businesses that suffer major revenue losses because of the smoke. Additionally, the bill adjusts federal budget rules to ensure that money designated for these smoke emergency efforts is not subject to certain deficit reduction measures.
