Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025This bill authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make grants to air pollution control agencies to support the development and implementation of programs that support local communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating with the public about, or mitigating the environmental and public health aspects of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. The EPA must establish a formula to distribute the grants among air pollution control agencies.The bill requires the EPA to establish four Centers of Excellence for Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat at institutions of higher education to research (1) the effects of smoke emissions from wildland fires and extreme heat on public health, and (2) the means by which communities can better respond to impacts from such conditions.Additionally, the EPA must begin to carry out research tostudy the health effects of smoke emissions from wildland fires and extreme heat;develop and disseminate personal and community-based interventions to reduce exposure to, and health effects of, wildland fire smoke emissions and extreme heat;increase the quality of smoke and extreme heat monitoring and prediction tools and techniques; anddevelop implementation and communication strategies.The EPA must also establish a competitive grant program to assist certain entities (e.g., a state) in developing and implementing collaborative community plans for mitigating the impacts of smoke emissions from wildland fires and extreme heat.
The legislation aims to authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to distribute competitive grants to various eligible entities, including states, local governments, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. These funds will enable recipients to develop and execute plans tailored to combat the adverse effects of smoke from wildfires and extreme heat conditions. The bill reinforces the importance of proactive measures in maintaining air quality and addressing related health risks, particularly in communities most vulnerable to these environmental challenges.
House Bill 903, known as the Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025, is designed to amend the Clean Air Act by establishing a grant program that supports local communities in managing the environmental and public health impacts of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. This initiative focuses on providing resources for detection, preparation, and communication concerning these issues, emphasizing the need for collaborative community planning and implementation.
Debate surrounding HB903 may focus on the prioritization of funding and resources, as well as the autonomy of local entities in devising their mitigation strategies. There may be concerns from some stakeholders regarding the effective allocation of grants and the potential bureaucratic challenges involved in interacting with federal agencies. Additionally, the ongoing effectiveness of community-based interventions and the necessity for continuous research to adapt strategies to changing environmental conditions could be central to discussions as the bill progresses.