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S 5145

Wildfire Air Quality Sensor Expansion Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Michael Bennet and 5 co-sponsors

Expands federal funding and programs to deploy portable air sensors, especially in rural and wildfire areas, to improve wildfire smoke data and public risk communication.

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 5145

Overview

  • Bill: S.5145, Wildfire Air Quality Sensor Expansion Act of 2026
  • Session: 119th Congress
  • Introduced: July 28, 2026
  • Primary purpose: Clarify that existing Clean Air Act grants can be used to purchase and operate portable air sensors, and establish new grant, loan, and technical assistance programs to expand air sensor use, especially in rural, remote, and wildfire-affected communities.
  • Principal sponsors: Sen. Rosen (lead), with notable cosponsors including Sen. Bennet, Sen. Klobuchar, Sen. Merkley, Sen. Schiff, Sen. Welch, among others.

Main purpose and intent

  • Enhance wildfire smoke risk mitigation by expanding access to air quality data through portable air sensors.
  • Address gaps in monitoring in rural and wildfire-prone areas where traditional monitors are scarce or absent.
  • Provide federal support to deploy, operate, and share data from portable sensors, integrating with public mapping tools like AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.

Key provisions and changes

Section 4. Clarification on use of existing funding for air sensors

  • Clarifies that air pollution control agencies may use grants from sections 103 or 105 of the Clean Air Act to purchase and operate portable air sensors and related equipment.

Section 5. Air Sensor Grant and Loan Programs

  • Portable Air Sensor Grants

    • Establishes competitive grants for air pollution control agencies to purchase and operate portable air sensors.
    • Recipients must coordinate data sharing and adjust data for public air quality mapping (including AirNow Fire and Smoke Map).
    • Prioritizes grants to:
    • Remote or rural locations lacking monitors
    • Areas with scarce air quality data
    • Communities affected or at risk from wildfire smoke in the relevant fiscal year
    • Graded to complement, not replace, existing air monitors under sections 103 and 105.
    • Authorization of appropriations: $10 million per year for FY 2027–2032.

  • Air Sensor Loan Programs

    • Expands EPA loan programs (regional programs and the Wildfire Smoke Air Monitoring Response Technology program) to regions, states, and tribes not currently participating.
    • Focus on placing portable sensors in areas severely affected by wildfires.
    • Authorization of appropriations: discretionary funding as necessary for FY 2027–2032.

Section 6. Access to Technical Assistance

  • EPA must provide technical assistance for purchasing and operating portable sensors to grant recipients under section 5 and to grant programs under Clean Air Act sections 103 and 105.
  • Technical assistance covers:
    • Sensor placement and type selection
    • Maintenance and equipment care
    • Data management and quality assurance plan development
  • Prioritization mirrors grant/loan provisions: focus on remote/rural areas, data-scarce regions, and wildfire-affected communities.
  • Authorization of appropriations: discretionary funding as necessary for FY 2027–2032.

Section 7. Quality Assurance Project Plan Templates

  • Within 180 days of enactment, EPA must develop and publish nationally consistent QA/PP templates for the sensor programs.
  • Templates must meet 2 CFR 200.112 (Quality Assurance) standards (as referenced by CFR 2 CFR 200.12–200.14) and be aligned with current federal QA requirements.

Who would be affected

  • Air pollution control agencies and their jurisdictions (state, local, tribal) eligible for EPA grants or loans.
  • Regions, states, and Indian tribes not previously participating in EPA air sensor loan programs.
  • Communities in rural, remote, or wildfire-prone areas lacking robust air quality monitoring.
  • Public health agencies and communities relying on sensor data for risk communication and mitigation.

Timelines and financials

  • Grants: Authorized $10 million annually (FY 2027–FY 2032) for portable air sensor grants.
  • Loans: Funding authorized as necessary for FY 2027–2032; no fixed cap stated.
  • Technical assistance: Funding as necessary for FY 2027–2032.
  • QA Plan templates: Due within 180 days after enactment.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Increases near-term availability of low-cost, portable air sensors to fill monitoring gaps.
  • Improves data sharing and public accessibility of wildfire smoke information through existing public mapping tools.
  • Supports more granular, localized risk communication and targeted mitigation efforts in underserved communities.
  • Balances expansion with preservation of traditional monitors, clarifying that sensors complement rather than replace regulated monitors.
  • Requires ongoing funding through appropriations to sustain grants, loans, and technical assistance.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with relevant provisions of the Clean Air Act sections referenced (103 and 105) or a plain-language one-page brief for distribution.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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